Comedian Denies 20 Charges in High Court Hearing
Scottish comedian and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli is set to stand trial after denying 20 charges of rape and sexual offences during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, June 26, 2026. The allegations, outlined in a five-page indictment, span a 15-year period from January 2006 to June 2021 and involve five separate women.
Kohli, 57, was excused from attending the hearing, with his legal team entering not guilty pleas on his behalf. The charges include five separate rape counts against one woman, alongside multiple accusations of sexual assault, indecent communication, and abusive behavior.
Details of the Allegations
According to court documents, the most serious charges involve a single female complainant who Kohli is accused of raping on multiple occasions. The first alleged rape occurred between June 15 and July 31, 2020, at a house near Glasgow. Prosecutors claim Kohli went on to rape the same woman on "various occasions" at the same property and at two other locations in the city's east end, continuing until February 1, 2021.
Two additional rapes are said to have happened within a 48-hour period in December 2020, with the final alleged rape occurring on June 20, 2021. In that instance, the woman is said to have been "intoxicated, drifting in and out of consciousness and incapable of consenting."
The indictment further accuses Kohli of four sexual assault charges involving the same woman, including claims that he forced her to wear a blindfold during one incident and spat on her during another. Separate allegations include a campaign of abusive behavior over two years, during which he is said to have demanded intimate images, tracked her movements, bombarded her with calls and texts, and coerced her into giving him money.
Additional charges span other women and locations. Kohli is accused of indecently assaulting a woman at the BBC Scotland studios in Glasgow and at the Radisson Hotel on Argyle Street between January 2006 and December 2008. He also faces charges of committing a sexually-related breach of the peace at an unnamed restaurant during the same period.
Other allegations include indecent assault and performing a sex act on a third woman at the Cross Keys Hotel in Canonbie, Dumfries and Galloway, on June 22, 2008; repeatedly sexually assaulting a fourth woman at the University of Edinburgh in August 2011; and grabbing a fifth woman in December 2016.
Context: A Career Under Scrutiny
Hardeep Singh Kohli rose to fame as a comedian and broadcaster, appearing on popular UK television shows including celebrity editions of Big Brother and MasterChef. He also contributed to BBC radio and television programs, becoming a recognizable figure in Scottish media.
The charges, which Kohli has denied, have now moved to a full trial. The breadth of the allegations—covering multiple complainants and incidents across 15 years—places the case among the more extensive sex offence prosecutions in Scotland in recent memory. The High Court in Glasgow will hear the case, though a trial date has yet to be set.
This is not the first time Kohli has faced legal trouble. In 2023, he was arrested and charged in connection with historical sexual offences, but those proceedings were separate from the current indictment. The latest charges represent the culmination of a lengthy police investigation.
The case has also drawn attention to broader issues of accountability in the UK entertainment industry, where several high-profile figures have faced similar allegations in recent years. While Kohli maintains his innocence, the trial will examine a wide range of evidence, including communications, witness testimony, and forensic material.
Perspective: A Trial with Wider Implications
Kohli's upcoming trial underscores the increasing willingness of alleged victims to come forward years after incidents, as well as the complexities of prosecuting historical sexual offences. The allegations span more than a decade and involve multiple locations, including a workplace setting at BBC Scotland.
The case also highlights the legal system's handling of charges that combine violent sexual assault with allegations of coercive control and psychological abuse. The indictment's detailed account of tracking, hounding, and financial coercion reflects a growing legal recognition that sexual offending often involves patterns of power and control rather than isolated incidents.
If convicted, Kohli faces a significant prison sentence, given the number and severity of the charges. However, the presumption of innocence remains until the trial concludes. Legal experts note that trials involving multiple complainants can be lengthy and complex, requiring careful handling of evidence and testimony to ensure fairness.
The outcome will be closely watched by campaigners for victims of sexual violence, as well as by the entertainment industry and the Scottish public. In a separate but related legal context, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton agreed to plead guilty in a classified documents case, signaling a different kind of legal accountability in the public eye.
As the judicial process unfolds, the case serves as a reminder that no public figure is above the law, and that allegations, once made, must be tested in a court of law. For now, Hardeep Singh Kohli awaits trial, his career and reputation hanging in the balance.
Comments