In a striking revelation that exposes deep-rooted exploitation within the UK’s charitable sector, the Charity Commission has ordered the dissolution of The Sikh Channel Community Broadcasting Limited (TSCCBL) — a Birmingham-based charity-operated television channel — following a damning investigation into financial mismanagement, governance failures, and links to extremist-linked organizations.
We had earlier reported on March 2, 2025, about the Charity Commission’s inquiry findings into governance failures at The Sikh Channel Community Broadcasting Limited (TSCCBL), shedding light on a deeply flawed charity operation entangled with extremist-linked networks.
This case has once again brought into sharp focus how extremist-aligned individuals and groups manipulate charitable platforms in the West — exploiting them for fraudulent fundraising, laundering illicit funds, and fueling radical agendas under the garb of community service.
A Charity in Crisis
TSCCBL, established in April 2009 by solicitor Davinder Singh Bal (DSB), had been operational as a registered charity since June 2010. At its height, the Sikh Channel was a prominent media platform for the Sikh diaspora, broadcasting from Canada and the UK. But behind its spiritual and cultural programming lay a complex web of family ties, financial misdeeds, and covert alliances.
The UK Charity Commission (CC) initiated a formal inquiry into TSCCBL in November 2019 after discovering its fundraising ties with an unregistered entity, Sikh Youth UK (SYUK) — an organization previously under the radar of national security and financial watchdogs. SYUK and its associates were later found guilty of charity fund fraud, with the main actors, Kaldip Singh Lehal (alias Deepa) and his sister Rajbinder Kaur, convicted in January 2025.
Red Flags and Financial Irregularities
The Commission’s investigation revealed a series of serious breaches of charity law and governance principles:
- The CEO, DSB — also a trustee — appointed himself to the salaried position (£40,000 annually) without any open recruitment process, directly violating TSCCBL’s founding rules.
- All trustees were his immediate family members, undermining any semblance of independent oversight.
- A suspicious payment of £654 was made from the charity’s account to a private company owned by DSB.
- Loans were inappropriately channeled to a trading subsidiary, further muddying the financial waters.
- A joint fundraiser with SYUK misled donors by withholding the fact that 40% of donations would be retained by TSCCBL for general expenditure.
The Commission labeled these actions as “misconduct and mismanagement,” ultimately dissolving the charity on February 25, 2025. DSB has since been banned from serving as a trustee or senior manager in any charitable organization for the next decade without prior written approval from the Commission.
A Broader Pattern of Abuse
Perhaps most disturbing is how this case highlights a recurring pattern involving extremist-aligned individuals — often referred to in security circles as PKEs (Pro-Khalistan Extremists). These actors have developed a model wherein they loosely run registered charities while simultaneously operating associated businesses, frequently controlled by the same individuals. Charities provide a respectable front to receive donations from the public and grants from local councils, all under the guise of community service or cultural initiatives.
Yet behind the scenes, these funds are often redirected toward opaque objectives. In the case of TSCCBL, DSB raised over £200,000 for SYUK. Although £120,000 was reportedly transferred, SYUK’s leader Kaldip Singh Lehal was bankrupt and unable to open a bank account. Instead, he created roughly 50 bank accounts in his sister’s name to launder the money — a staggering feat of financial deception.
DSB himself has held roles in 26 dissolved companies and continues to operate in others. While under regulatory scrutiny by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, he is still allowed to practice law — albeit under strict conditions.
Systemic Loopholes, National Risks
The TSCCBL case is not an isolated incident. It exposes a broader vulnerability in the UK and Western charity ecosystems, where regulatory gaps are exploited by those with radical motives. Charities, designed as lifelines for the vulnerable, are being hijacked to fund ideological extremism, defraud the state, and deceive well-meaning donors.
Authorities are increasingly aware of the link between such abuses and the operations of extremist groups — especially those promoting divisive agendas within diasporic communities. These charities often evade scrutiny by projecting cultural or religious identities, making regulatory enforcement both delicate and politically sensitive.
Moving Forward
The dissolution of TSCCBL marks a significant step toward cleaning up the charity sector, but it also signals a need for broader reform. Greater transparency, stricter vetting of trustees, tighter financial audits, and stronger oversight of partnerships — especially with unregistered organizations — are essential to prevent further abuse.
As communities continue to entrust charities with their goodwill and generosity, regulators and law enforcement must ensure these platforms remain true to their mission — serving the public good, not the private interests of a radical few.
