A shop worker praised by the Queen for helping people in the pandemic is facing deportation.
Vimal Pandya, 41, supported at least 50 vulnerable families with free food deliveries.
It earned him a letter of thanks from the Queen’s personal representative in London. Three months later the Home Office warned him he had no right to stay in the UK.
Vimal, an ex-stockbroker from India, arrived as a student in 2011 and works at Halai General Stores in Rotherhithe, South East London.
His troubles began when he lost his student visa after his college went bust.
He said: “This is my home. I really love it here – the people, the community, the love, care and respect. It will put me in real misery if I have to go back to India. I feel unwanted, my life is frozen.”
Locals have started a petition calling for his deportation order to be revoked. Nearly 80,000 people have signed it.
One, Tom Chivers, said: “During the 2020 lockdown my young family and I saw more of Vimal than we did of our closest relatives.
“He was a shining light in the darkness of the pandemic, providing a friendly welcome as well as practical assistance to vulnerable and shielding people in our community.”
Vimal’s letter from royal rep Sir Kenneth Olisa read: “You are one of those people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty…I am therefore writing to personally thank you and to encourage you to continue making a positive difference to Londoners.”
Vimal, who has spent more than £40,000 on his fight to stay, added: “The support I have received is incredible. I am lost for words.
“But I mostly stay indoors now and do not go outside, as I am so stressed.”
The Home Office will not comment on the case.
