Hounslow Councillor Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charges
Gurbachan Athwal accused of taking over £12,000 from charity
Gurbachan Athwal (second from right) on his way to court with his legal team
October 27, 2026
A Hounslow councillor has appeared in Magistrates Court this Tuesday (27 October) to plead not guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Gurbachan Singh Athwal, aged 75, of Hadley Gardens, Southall, is the now Independent councillor for Heston East since he lost the Labour whip when he was charged with fraud. Mr Athwal pleaded not guilty and requested that his case be heard in Crown Court.
Mr Athwal arrived at court wearing a charcoal grey suit accompanied by his legal team. Minutes before he was due to appear in Court 2 at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, the councillor calmly leant back and unwrapped a golden coloured sweet as he waited to be called.
Shortly after, the former Labour, former Green Party councillor, now Independent councillor, Guy Lambert strolled in wearing a brown coat and a striped sweater, before sitting across from Cllr Athwal in the lobby. Cllr Lambert ensured he was the first person in the courtroom after the legal teams.
The prosecution alleged that Cllr Athwal dishonestly abused his position as treasurer of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall between 2021 and 2022. The charity manages the two largest Gurdwaras – Sikh places of worship – in Southall.
He also remains a trustee of the charity according to the Charity Commission website. The prosecution says that during 2022 there were financial irregularities in paying contractors, suppliers and petty cash payments.
The court heard that the defendant was allegedly “double counting payments” and misappropriated funds amounting to £12,682. When asked whether he would like to have the case settled in Crown Court or by Magistrates, Mr Athwal stood, with his hands crossed in front of him, and opted for Crown Court.
Mr Athwal is now scheduled to appear before Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, November 24. This is also the date of the next scheduled Hounslow Council meeting – one he would usually appear at.
The legal team for Mr Athwal noted that the venue of the trial may have to be moved, given that Mr Athwal is a local councillor in a ward approximately two miles away from Isleworth. The trial will continue in November.
Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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