A Conservative Party donor and a property developer who met the King and late Queen has appeared in court accused of bribing former government minister Asot Michael

Hardip Singh Virdee, also known as Peter Singh, allegedly bribed Michael from January 2015 to July 2017 when he was the minister for tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.

The 50-year-old runs the £4 billion B&S Property group in Mayfair, London, and PV Energy Limited. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he was bailed to attend Southwark Crown Court on 20 June for a preparatory hearing.

According to charges brought by the National Crime Agency, Virdee “bribed a foreign public official, namely Asot Michael, with the intention of influencing his capacity as a foreign public official.”

His company PV Energy Limited faces an accusation of “failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences.” He is a prominent figure on social media with 260,000 followers on Instagram, which he uses to promote himself as a mentor in the finance world.

Virdee has posted pictures of himself claiming to be taken next to members of the Royal Family including the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

He also posts pictures of himself jetting across the world, inside expensive cars such as Rolls Royces, and at prestigious events with the Army.

He runs The Virdee Foundation, a charity which helps vulnerable women and children. At the next hearing, it is expected that Virdee will enter a plea to the allegation.