Labour councillor defends wife Mundill Mahil who lured man to his death

July 2024 ยท 7 minute read

A former medical student jailed for luring a millionaire TV exec into a deadly 'honeytrap' will not be mayoress after her husband today dramatically quit his bid for office over the controversy.

Varinder Singh-Bola, mayor-elect of Redbridge in London, said he would no longer be taking up the position to protect his family from 'public speculation and hearsay.'

The shock decision comes as he defended his wife, Mundill Mahil, as a 'great example' of Britain's criminal justice system as she prepared to become mayoress.

He said she had made a 'positive contribution to society through mentoring and supporting others' since leaving prison four years ago.

Since her release Mahil has rebuilt her life, becoming a personal trainer and marrying Mr Singh-Bola in 2016 following her conviction for causing GBH in 2012.

The former medical student was jailed for six years in 2012 for inviting infatuated Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student flat in Brighton where he was beaten over the head by another man and locked in the boot of a burning car. 

Mundill Mahill (pictured) was jailed after luring Sikh TV executive Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student digs where he was beaten savagely over the head by another man then tied up with electrical cord and trapped in the boot of his Mercedes car which was set on fire

Mundill Mahill (pictured) was jailed after luring Sikh TV executive Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student digs where he was beaten savagely over the head by another man then tied up with electrical cord and trapped in the boot of his Mercedes car which was set on fire

Since Mahil (left) was released from a six-year jail term for GBH she has rebuilt her life. She has become a personal trainer and married Labour politician Varinder Singh-Bola (right)

Since Mahil (left) was released from a six-year jail term for GBH she has rebuilt her life. She has become a personal trainer and married Labour politician Varinder Singh-Bola (right)

Mahil's husband Councillor Singh-Bola (pictured right), today quit in his bid to become mayor at Redbridge Council, east London over the controversy surrounding his appointment

Mahil's husband Councillor Singh-Bola (pictured right), today quit in his bid to become mayor at Redbridge Council, east London over the controversy surrounding his appointment

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Her husband Mr Singh-Bola said 'I have taken time and reflected on the events of the past weekend and the concerns of my family, friends and colleagues and have decided to withdraw my name from consideration for the Mayoralty of Redbridge

'The Redbridge Mayoralty is a hugely important and distinguished position and one which I do not wish to do undue harm by allowing it to become mired in controversy.

'I stand united with my beloved wife and my wider family. They have always loved and supported me and now it is my time to shield them from public speculation and hearsay.

Leader of the Redbridge Labour Group, Cllr Jas Athwal said: 'I accept Cllr Singh-Bola's decision to withdraw his nomination, we will now move on and look at further candidates for Mayor of Redbridge in 2019/20'.

Mr Singh-Bola and Redbridge Labour Party will be making no further commend. 

The Labour councillor had previously told of his 'excitement' at starting the ceremonial role and defended his wife of three years, saying: 'I'm really looking forward to starting my mayoral term later this year and fundraising for local charities in Redbridge.

'It's an exciting time for me. I have been inundated with supportive messages from friends, former classmates and teachers.

'I stand by my wife who has long been involved in charities and grassroots politics, well before I even met her. We have refrained from publicising our side of the story, and instead have been focusing on giving back to the community.

Former medical student Mahil (pictured) was jailed for inviting infatuated Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student flat in Brighton where he was beaten over the head by another man

Former medical student Mahil (pictured) was jailed for inviting infatuated Gagandip Singh, 21, to her student flat in Brighton where he was beaten over the head by another man

During her trial at the Old Bailey, Mahil claimed she had no role in the attack on Gagandip and the jury cleared her of murder, but convicted her of causing grievous bodily harm Gagandip Singh was beaten around the head, tied up and then burned alive in the boot of a car after visiting Mahil's student flat

During her trial at the Old Bailey, Mahil (left) claimed she had no role in the attack on Gagandip (right) and the jury cleared her of murder, but convicted her of causing grievous bodily harm

Gagandip's body was later found in the boot of the burnt out wreckage of his Mercedes car, dumped 60 miles away near Greenwich Park, in South East London (pictured)

Gagandip's body was later found in the boot of the burnt out wreckage of his Mercedes car, dumped 60 miles away near Greenwich Park, in South East London (pictured)

In the trial Harvinder Shoker (pictured), who was also infatuated with Mahil, was convicted of murder sentenced to life Darren Peters (pictured) was jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of Gagandip

In the trial Harvinder Shoker (left), who was infatuated with Mahil, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life while Darren Peters (right) was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter

'Mundill is a great example of a young woman who has gone through our criminal justice system and is making a positive contribution to society through mentoring and supporting others.

'No one can turn back the clock and I only wish people would refrain from passing judgment without knowing the full details.'

During her trial at the Old Bailey in 2012, Mahil claimed she had no role in the attack and although she was cleared of murder she was convicted of grievous bodily harm.

The jury was told that she enticed Mr Singh to her student digs to get revenge for a sex assault on her.

His body was later found in the boot of the burnt out wreckage of his Mercedes car, dumped 60miles away near Greenwich Park, in South East London. 

Another man, Harvinder Shoker, who was also infatuated with Mahil, was convicted of murder and jailed for a minimum of 22 years and a third, Darren Peters, of manslaughter, jailed for 12 years.

Sentencing Mahil, Judge Paul Worsley QC said she had 'many outstanding qualities' but was also 'manipulative, vengeful and deceitful'.

Since her release, she has trained as a personal trainer, aromatherapist and masseuse as well as getting involved with photography and charity work.

Mr Singh-Bola is an Ilford councillor who worked as a senior official in the office of Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and who in the past has been pictured with London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Last week, the councillor tweeted: 'I'm over the moon to be confirmed as the Mayor-Elect for the London Borough of Redbridge.

'It's an incredible privilege to step into the role of Mayor following the incredible Cllr @DebbieThiara and represent the Borough I love and have lived in my whole life.'

As his wife, Mahil will attend official functions and glittering society parties by his side. Mr Singh's family reacted with fury at the news.

His sister, Amandip Kaur Singh, 26, said: 'That woman lured my brother to a horrible death and yet served just three years in prison for it.

'She has only been out for four years and is now a mayoress, albeit through her husband but she will be afforded as much respect as him.

'She will be on his arm at official functions, where she'll no doubt launch a charm offensive with the gathered dignitaries.

'But she doesn't deserve any of it. My brother's life was snatched away when it was just about to really begin and as a family we've been struggling to deal with it ever since.

Mr Signh-Bola proudly announced on Twitter that he is mayor-elect of the London Borough of Redbridge, which means that his wife, who served three years for GBH will be mayoress

In 2016 she wed Mr Singh-Bola (pictured), an Ilford councillor who worked as an official in the office of Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and who has been pictured with Sadiq Khan

In 2016 she wed Mr Singh-Bola (pictured), an Ilford councillor who worked as an official in the office of Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and who has been pictured with Sadiq Khan

Mr Singh-Bola had proudly announced on Twitter that he was mayor-elect of the London borough of Redbridge, which would have meant his wife, who served three years for GBH would have been mayoress. The councillor defended his wife calling her a 'great example of the British criminal justice system' before he pulled out of his bid to be mayor

Mr Singh-Bola had proudly announced on Twitter that he was mayor-elect of the London borough of Redbridge, which would have meant his wife, who served three years for GBH would have been mayoress. The councillor defended his wife calling her a 'great example of the British criminal justice system' before he pulled out of his bid to be mayor

'Yet she's served a meagre prison sentence, married a high-flying local councillor and is now trying to ingratiate herself into polite society.

'Not once has she ever admitted her guilt or apologised to us. She's moved on and is trying to pretend nothing ever happened.'

Since her release from prison, Mahil has also been working with a charity called Working Chance, which helps women with convictions rehabilitate back into employment and mainstream society.

Founder and chief executive Jocelyn Hillman OBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Working Chance, added: 'Mundill served her sentence and is now herself working for charitable causes including the reintegration of offenders.

'We are aspirational for the women we support at Working Chance, and one of our mottos is 'Look where I'm going, not where I've been.'

'Any press attention should focus on the contribution Mundill is making to society today, as a good example of how reform and rehabilitation should operate.'

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