Comedian and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli is set to face trial in October 2027 on 20 charges of rape and other sex offences, following not guilty pleas entered through his legal team at a High Court hearing in Glasgow. The allegations against Mr Kohli, aged 57 and from Kelvinside, Glasgow, involve five different women and span nearly 15 years, raising concerns about the impact of long-term investigations on victims.
Among the charges are five counts of rape involving one woman, which allegedly took place at various locations in and around Glasgow between June 2020 and February 2021. The same woman is also accused of being subjected to four separate incidents of sexual assault, as well as two years of abusive behaviour, during which she was coerced into giving Mr Kohli money.
Other allegations against Mr Kohli include indecently assaulting a second woman at BBC Scotland studios in Glasgow and the Radisson Hotel between January 2006 and December 2008. He is also accused of performing a sex act in front of a third woman in Canonbie, Dumfries and Galloway, in June 2008. Furthermore, charges include repeatedly sexually assaulting a fourth woman at the University of Edinburgh in August 2011, and the same offence against a fifth woman in December 2016, with claims of threatening behaviour.
Mr Kohli's defence advocate, Sarah Livingstone, submitted his not guilty pleas on his behalf during the brief hearing. A special defence of consent has been lodged for some of the charges. The trial is expected to be a significant legal proceeding due to the nature of the allegations and Mr Kohli's high public profile.
The case highlights the complex and often lengthy process involved in investigating and prosecuting serious sex crimes, which can have a profound impact on victims and their families. The extensive timeframes required for these cases to reach trial demonstrate the thoroughness of the investigation and preparation undertaken by both prosecution and defence teams.