The Commission found the trustees’ misconduct and/or mismanagement caused significant financial losses, from which the charity was unable to recover.

Mr Nathan Rahulan and Mrs Padma Rahulan had been trustees of the Hindu Community Society since it was registered in 2010. But they mismanaged the charity’s finances by obtaining finance to buy a property on terms the charity could not afford to repay, without consulting with the other trustees or seeking financial advice.

The Charity Commission’s Inquiry found that in 2012, the charity purchased a property to be used as a base for a temple for the Tamil community in Coventry. The temple was purchased using donations from the local community and a commercial bridging loan, with interest totalling £5,000 per month. Over £500,000 of public donations were then used to construct the temple.

But when the charity was unable to repay the loan, the property was repossessed. Mr Rahulan, again without consulting the other trustees, spent a further £46,000 of the charity’s money on legal advice in an unsuccessful attempt to regain ownership.

The charity aimed to advance the Hindu religion and education in Hindu culture, as well as the relief of poverty, distress and sickness in the Tamil community. It has been unable to recover from the financial losses resulting from the Rahulans’ misconduct. As it no longer operates, the charity has been removed from the Register of Charities.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations, Charity Commission, said:

The two former trustees’ misconduct and mismanagement has caused significant losses to the charity and the local community it supported. Their behaviour falls far below what we’d expect from trustees and hindered the charity’s work in the Tamil community.

Charities exist to do good, and it is important that individuals are not able to hinder this good work, or misuse the public’s generous donations.

The Charity Commission first opened an investigation into the Hindu Community Society in March 2017, after it defaulted on statutory filing obligations. The Commission exercised its powers to remove Mr and Mrs Rahulan as trustees on 24 March 2020 and 3 March 2021 respectively. They are permanently disqualified from acting as charity trustees.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.
2. Hindu Community Society (‘the charity’) was registered on 24 June 2010, with the aims of: the advancement of the Hindu religion; the advancement of education particularly in Hindu culture; and the relief of poverty, distress, and sickness.
3. The charity was removed from the Register on 1 November 2021 and is recorded as a removed charity on the Register.
4. The full report can be viewed here.
5. For any queries, contact: pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk.

David Mackinnon

David is Regional Head of Operations for Jockey Club Racecourses South West Region, incorporating Cheltenham, Exeter, Warwick and Wincanton racecourse. This sees him responsible for delivering operational high standards across the four racecourses, and the successful delivery of the £45m development at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Prior to this, David held Managing Director roles at Sandown Park and Royal Windsor Racecourse, and worked for three years at the Jockey Club whilst it was the regulator for horse racing. David spent three years as a trainee chartered accountant with Coopers and Lybrand.

Jane Sawyers QPM

Jane joined Staffordshire police as a constable in 1984 and served in every rank in the force, retiring as the chief constable in 2017. She worked throughout Staffordshire in a variety of roles including uniformed operations, drugs investigation and professional standards. As a senior officer, she led the force response to many high-profile operations including the national disorder in 2011, the London Olympics in 2012 and a number of terrorist incidents.

Whilst serving as a police officer she gained a master’s degree in applied criminology and police management from the University of Cambridge. In June 2017 she was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for her outstanding contribution to policing.

Jane joined the policing team at Staffordshire University in December 2018, and was appointed as an Associate Professor of Policing Practice in September 2020. She is a Deputy Lieutenant for Staffordshire, a board member at the YMCA North Staffordshire and a trustee of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust. She is also the Patron of ASIST, a charity that provides specialist independent advocacy support for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or mental health issues.

Dame Jil Matheson

Dame Jil Matheson served as National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority from 2009 until her retirement in 2014, following a career in social research and statistics. During that time Jil also Chaired the OECD’s Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy and the UN Statistical Commission.

Jil is Honorary Secretary of the Academy of Social Sciences and a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. She is a Trustee of NatCen Social Research, and amember of the Royal Society’s Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education.

Philip Kolvin QC

Philip Kolvin QC is a barrister specialising in licensing and regulation, practising from the public and commercial law Chambers 11 KBW. He also sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court. Philip is a Patron of the Institute of Licensing, the Chair of the national gambling charity Betknowmore, Co-Chair of Crystal Palace Park Trust and Co-Vice Chair of King’s College Hospitality Charity. He is the author of a number of textbooks in the field of licensing.

Susan Johnson OBE

Susan Johnson OBE was the Chief Executive at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service until her retirement in July 2015. The appointment meant Susan was the first woman and non-uniformed chief executive to lead a Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom.

Susan previously held the position of Chief Executive of the Northern Business Forum and Executive Director Business Development for the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward. Susan has held a number of non-executive roles throughout her career including Greggs plc, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Durham University. She is currently a Commissioner for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and a Non Executive Director with the Health and Safety Executive. Susan was awarded an OBE for services to New Deal in the North East in 2000.

Trustees of the Sports Ground Safety Authority are remunerated £265 per day. These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The reappointment process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. David Mackinnon, Jane Sawyers QPM, Dame Jil Matheson, Philip Kolvin QC and Susan Johnson OBE have not declared any activity.