Hardeep Singh Kohli sexual assault trial: Comedian accused of stalking Glasgow woman, grabbing her from behind at...

Comedian and media personality Hardeep Singh Kohli has been accused of a series of sexual offences, including indecently assaulting a woman in a BBC studio. The 56-year-old Scottish artist has reportedly denied as many as six sex-related charges after being accused of offences against three women between 2007 and 2016.

 

For a trial that is expected to last four to five days, the prosecution is preparing to present seven civilian witnesses, along with one police witness, before the Glasgow Sheriff Court, according to British media reports.

 

In one of the cases, Hardeep Singh Kohli is said to have groped a woman from behind at BBC Studios in Glasgow’s Pacific Quay. He also allegedly tried to hug her forcefully and made sexual comments. However, this is being treated as a separate charge, as he made the comments at a Glasgow bar and restaurant.

 

A third charge accuses him of stroking the woman on her back and touching her hair at the city's Radisson Blu Hotel.

 

The second woman has reportedly alleged that the former Celebrity Big Brother contestant sexually assaulted her at the Cross Keys Hotel in Canonbie, Dumfries and Galloway. Kohli is accused of forcibly taking her arm before trying to kiss her face. He is also accused of "conducting himself in a disorderly manner" by exposing himself and performing a sex act on himself at the same hotel, according to a report by STV.TV.

 

The third woman alleged that he sexually assaulted her at the Yes Bar in Glasgow city centre, the STV.TV report said. She accused him of forcing himself on her, claiming he attempted to put his tongue in her mouth after seizing her body.

Who is Hardeep Singh Kohli?

Kohli, of Indian Sikh heritage, is also known as a television presenter, writer, and broadcaster. Apart from Celebrity Big Brother, he was part of the BBC's The One Show, Question Time, Desi DNA, and Celebrity MasterChef, where he was a finalist. He has also been a regular on BBC Radio 4 and has written for newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent.

 

He was charged by Scottish Police with multiple sexual offences, including rape and assault, in 2023. This significantly damaged his public standing.

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