Spitting Paan In London Proves Costly For Indian-origin Men; Forced To Pay Lakhs Of Rupees In Fines

London: On the streets of India, people often chew paan and spit wherever they please. While onlookers may grimace at the sight, such behavior is considered quite commonplace in India. However, in certain places abroad, spitting *paan* is considered a serious offense that carries severe penalties.

Why do people consume paan?

In some regions of India, paan consumption is extremely popular, and people frequently spit it out openly on the streets. Yet, for two individuals of Indian origin living abroad, this very mistake proved to be extremely costly, as they were slapped with fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees.

In London, the capital of the UK, two men of Indian origin were caught spitting *paan* in the Brent area. Both men were fined £1,300—an amount exceeding ₹100,000.

What did the court do?

The Brent Council, through the North West London Magistrates' Court, imposed a fine of £1,391 (equivalent to ₹172,000) on 31-year-old Akshat Kumar, a resident of Edgware. He was charged with spitting *paan* on a street in Kingsbury on June 11, 2025.

In addition to Akshat, the court also fined 32-year-old Hitesh Patel—a resident of Ruislip—£1,391 for spitting *paan* on a street in Wembley Hill on June 12, 2025.

How ​​much is the fine for spitting paan?

Generally, the laws regarding spitting *paan* in London are quite strict, with standard fines typically set at £100 (₹12,000). However, neither Akshat nor Hitesh appeared in court for their hearings. Consequently, in their absence, the charges against them were not only upheld but their fines were also increased.

The Brent Council takes a very tough stance against those who spit *paan*, as cleaning up the residue poses significant difficulties for sanitation workers. The Council is deeply frustrated by the issue of *paan* spitting in London; as a result, Council officials conduct daily patrols across various neighborhoods to monitor and address this problem.