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Gulam Noon and Chai Patel fail to become Peers
NRI businesswoman, Sandip Verma, Founder, Domicillary Care Services UK Ltd, was among the 23 people who were appointed as life peers.
Leading NRI businessmen Sir Gulam Noon and Chai Patel on Tuesday failed to achieve Peerage after British Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to scale down ruling Labour party's list of new members for the House of Lords in the wake of the "cash for honours" row.
NRI businesswoman, Sandip Verma, Founder, Domicillary Care Services UK Ltd, was among the 23 people who were appointed as life peers.
Both Noon, head of the Noon products, and Patel, head of the Priory Clinic, pulled out after their names were leaked as having been blocked by the Independent Watchdog which scrutinises nominations. They were among four of Blair's original nominations for the peerages.
One Conservative nominee - who lent 2 million pounds - was also blocked.
Scotland Yard has launched a cross-party investigation into allegations peerages were being "sold" in return for providing financial support.
Former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, Mohamed Iitaf Sheikh, Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum and retired trade union boss Sir Bill Morris are among the best-known figures set to join the House of Lords.
