A former BBC broadcaster and television personality is set to stand trial after denying a series of serious sexual offence allegations involving five women.
Hardeep Singh Kohli, 57, entered not guilty pleas through his legal representative during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
The case concerns 20 charges alleged to have taken place over a period spanning more than 15 years, from January 2006 to June 2021.
Rape Charges Form Central Part of the Case
The indictment includes five rape charges involving one woman, with prosecutors alleging the offences occurred between June 2020 and June 2021 at properties near Glasgow and in the city’s east end.
According to court documents, several of the alleged incidents are said to have taken place at the same residence, while others allegedly occurred at two separate addresses.
Prosecutors further claim that one alleged offence happened while the woman was intoxicated, drifting in and out of consciousness, and therefore incapable of giving consent.
Kohli denies all allegations against him.
Additional Sexual Assault Allegations Included
Alongside the rape accusations, prosecutors have also charged Kohli with four counts of sexual assault involving the same complainant.
The allegations include claims that he instructed the woman to wear a blindfold during one incident and that he spat on her during another alleged encounter.
His defence has entered a special defence of consent in relation to a number of the charges.
Prosecutors Allege Pattern of Controlling Behaviour
Court papers also accuse Kohli of engaging in what prosecutors describe as a course of abusive behaviour toward the same woman over approximately two years.
The indictment alleges he repeatedly sought intimate photographs, questioned her about previous relationships, monitored her movements, and contacted her persistently through calls and messages.
Additional claims include allegations that he pressured her into giving him money, unexpectedly appeared at her home, locked her out of his own property, disposed of meals she had prepared, and sent indecent communications, including images of semi-naked women.
Other Women Named in Separate Allegations
The indictment also contains allegations involving four other women dating back to 2006.
Among those claims are accusations that Kohli indecently assaulted a woman at BBC Scotland’s Glasgow studios and at a city hotel between 2006 and 2008. Prosecutors also allege he committed a sexually related breach of the peace at a restaurant during the same period.
Separate allegations state that Kohli indecently assaulted another woman and performed a sexual act at the Cross Keys Hotel in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, in June 2008.
Further charges accuse him of repeatedly sexually assaulting another woman at the University of Edinburgh in August 2011.
A final complainant alleges Kohli sexually assaulted her at Glasgow’s former Yes Bar in December 2016. Prosecutors claim he grabbed her, put his arms around her, kissed her, repeatedly pursued her inside the venue, and made sexual remarks.
Kohli has denied each of these allegations.
Court Schedules Trial for 2027
Kohli, who lives in Glasgow’s Kelvinside area, was excused from attending the procedural hearing in person.
During the hearing, defence advocate Sarah Livingstone formally entered not guilty pleas on his behalf, while prosecutor Paul Harvey agreed that the case was ready to proceed to trial.
Presiding judge Lord Renucci scheduled the trial to begin on October 1, 2027, with proceedings expected to last approximately eight days. A further preliminary hearing has been fixed for September.
Kohli remains on bail pending the trial.
Long Television Career Preceded Criminal Proceedings
Before the allegations emerged, Kohli built a lengthy broadcasting career across British television and radio.
He previously worked as a reporter on BBC’s The One Show and appeared as a panelist on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff.
He also featured on programmes including Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity MasterChef, and Newsnight Review, while hosting shows on BBC Radio 4.
The criminal proceedings are ongoing, and Kohli is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
