Councillor Varinder Singh Bola withdrew his nomination after it emerged that his wife had been involved in the murder of a 21-year-old Sikh man.
Councillor Bola’s wife, Mundill Mahil, was imprisoned in 2012 for Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) after she lured Gagandip Singh to his death.
After she set a “honeytrap” for Gagandip at her Brighton flat, the TV executive was beaten over the head by Harvinder Shoker and Darren Peters. He was then tied up with an electrical cord, stuffed in the boot of his own car and set on fire in southeast London. It is believed that he was still alive when the car was torched.
The Labour councillor made the announcement last week that he would be the mayor-elect, but in response to criticism from the media withdrew his nomination.
“I have taken time and reflected on the events of the past weekend and the concerns of my family, friends and colleagues. I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration for the mayoralty of Redbridge,” he said in a statement
He also added that he stood united with his “beloved wife” Mahil.
