Two Indian-origin men face Rs 1.7 lakh fine each for spitting paan on London streets

Two men fined heavily in London for paan spitting. (AI-generated representative image)

What may seem like a small act in one place can bring serious consequences in another. In London, rules on public cleanliness are being enforced more strictly, and even minor offences are not being overlooked.

A council in the city has fined two Indian-origin men over £1,000 each after incidents of paan spitting were reported, highlighting a wider effort to tackle the issue.

According to a report by the Times of India, the cases were reported in the London borough of Brent, where authorities have stepped up action against repeated instances of paan spitting in public spaces.

In one case, Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel, 31, a resident of Edgware, was fined £1,391 (around Rs 1.7 lakh) by the North West London Magistrates' Court earlier this month. The hearing went ahead in his absence after he did not attend.

The case relates to an incident on June 11, 2025, when he was found guilty of spitting paan on a road in Kingsbury. What began as a smaller penalty later increased sharply after it was not paid. Officials cited by TOI noted that “the initial fine was £100, but after it remained unpaid and the matter was taken to court, it rose to £1,391.”

In a separate but similar case, Hitesh Patel, 32, who lives in Ruislip, was also fined £1,391 by the same court. His offence took place on June 12, 2025, when he was found guilty of spitting paan on a road in Wembley Hill. Like the earlier case, he also did not attend the hearing.

Authorities have said that paan spitting is not just a matter of behaviour, but also a financial concern. The stains left behind are hard to remove and require regular cleaning. According to the council, more than £30,000 (around Rs 37 lakh) is spent every year on cleaning paan spit, adding that even the use of industrial cleaning equipment has not been fully effective in removing the stains.

To deal with the issue, the council has increased monitoring and enforcement across key areas. Enforcement officers carry out daily patrols and are authorised to issue a £100 fine to anyone caught spitting paan.

The cases have been widely shared on social media, where many users supported the strict action taken by the council. One user wrote, “Excellent. There has to be zero tolerance. India itself should take a cue and clamp down on this blight at home.”

Another added, “Superb! Now do this in India too. 1000 INR fine per spitting and literring + cleaning it up too.” A third comment said, “They should be also be ordered to do community service. Cleaning the streets.”

Meanwhile, spitting paan or gutka in public places in India is also against the law, and fines usually range from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 depending on the state, city, and area.