Two Indian men fined Rs 1.72 lakh each in London for spitting pan masala in public place

LONDON: Two Indian men have been fined in Brent, London, for chewing and spitting pan masala in a public place. Akshit Kumar Bhadre Patel, who lives in Edgware, and Hitesh Patel from Ruislip were each fined £1,391 (around Rs 1.72 lakh), according to reports. Earlier, both men were fined £100 (around Rs 12,371) for the same offence. However, they failed to pay the fine, leading authorities to increase the penalty.

Akshit Patel spat pan masala near a metro station on Kingsbury Road. In June 2025, the North West London Magistrates’ Court fined him £100. But he did not appear in court or pay the fine. So, the penalty was increased. Hitesh Patel was fined for spitting pan masala on Wembley Hill Road. He also failed to pay the fine. As a result, his penalty was increased to £1,391.

Brent City Council spends around £30,000 every year to clean stains caused by pan masala on roads and buildings. Authorities have placed awareness banners and warning signs in many areas. These signs say that people will be fined £100 for such actions. Officials have also increased patrols to catch offenders.