Fraud filmed pumping iron while on disability benefits steps down from treasurer role
A benefits cheat who stole £36,000 from the public purse has stepped down from his position as treasurer of Wolverhampton's biggest Sikh temple.
Paramjit Randhawa controlled the purse strings at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Sedgley Street, Blakenhall, looking after weekly donations of up to £10,000 and overseeing a bank account containing more than £2 million.
Last week at Wolverhampton Crown Court the 71-year-old admitted falsely claiming £36,000 in disability benefits after failing to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that his health had improved since he first made the claim in 1995.
Randhawa, of Honor Avenue, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton told the DWP he suffered severe mobility problems.
But inspectors went undercover to film him working out at a gym at Wednesfield's Bentley Bridge Retail Park.
Randhawa had taken a voluntary position as one of three treasurers at the Sedgley Street temple following committee elections in May.
The committee is currently embroiled in a power struggle after all 25 members – including Randhawa – were ordered to step down after the Charity Commission ruled the election was unconstitutional. Sukhbinder Singh Sandhu, one of the Gurdwara's trustees, said Randhawa's position became untenable.
"Officially he has stepped down for personal reasons but it is common knowledge that he has gone because of the court case," he said.
Randhawa is on bail and will be sentenced next year.
