BBC suspends Tommy Sandhu over reported lewd comments

The BBC has reportedly suspended BBC Asian Network Breakfast presenter, Tommy Sandhu over a WhatsApp group, which included reported lewd and racist comments.

Daily Mail reports that the WhatsApp group included at least three other colleagues. The report adds that the group shared sexist, racist and homophobic comments. There were also alleged sexual references made at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra producer, Amy Elizabeth Childs and young assistant producer Amanpreet Kaur.

The report adds that producers Kejal Kamani and Asheesh Sharma were also a part of the group, plus DJ Sachy. It says that Kamani has been sacked, while Sharma has been given a final warning. Sandhu, who has not been on-air due to pre-booked holidays and the suspension, is not known to have made derogatory comments himself but was simply part of the group.

Furthermore, the group branded one colleague “a batty boy” and another “Gandu”. The group also said that one of the radio hosts was gay, even though he is married. It went on to call one of the reporters a “Paki”.

The BBC is said to have had opened up a major investigation into this. Without divulging details, it told the publication, “We never comment on matters concerning any individuals working with the BBC. Any allegations of inappropriate behaviour would always be taken extremely seriously and would be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.”

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