Overview
- HM Treasury last week targeted pro-Khalistan actors with an asset freeze on Babbar Akali Lehar and sanctions on Gurpreet Singh Rehal.
- Rehal faces an asset freeze and a director disqualification that bars him from managing or promoting any UK company.
- The UK says Rehal supported Babbar Khalsa and Babbar Akali Lehar through recruitment, financial services, and procuring weapons and materiel.
- All funds and economic resources in the UK owned or controlled by Rehal or Babbar Akali Lehar are frozen, blocking UK persons from providing them financial services without authorization.
- The actions were taken under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, marking the first UK use of these measures against Babbar Khalsa-linked entities.