British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Details emerged in a recent court hearing about Vikram Sharma, the 23-year-old Indian-origin man accused of setting fire to Punjabi musician AP Dhillon’s vehicles at his home in British Columbia. Prosecutors revealed that Sharma, who fled to India after the incident, was living in Canada illegally at the time. His student visa had expired in April 2024, and he committed the arson in September 2024.
According to court documents, Sharma had previously attempted to renew his student visa using fraudulent documents submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Authorities flagged the documents, requiring him to appear in person, but the offence occurred before any resolution.
Sharma was not alone in the attack. Co-accused Abjeet Kingra was present when the duo torched Dhillon’s vehicle while the singer was away. Dhillon’s roommate narrowly escaped injury. Kingra, who arrived in Canada in 2019 for studies, admitted in court that he became involved with the wrong crowd while struggling to find work.
Kingra was arrested two months after the attack en route to Toronto Airport, while Sharma had already left the country. Kingra later pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year prison sentence. He also submitted a handwritten apology, acknowledging the severity of his actions:
“I did a horrible and terrifying thing that could lead to harm, injure, or kill someone, which was never my intention. This is a big mistake that not only scared the victim and his family but the community too.”
The court hearing also highlighted the motive behind the attack. Prosecutors stated that the Bishnoi gang targeted Dhillon due to his association with Bollywood star Salman Khan, who appeared in one of the musician’s recent videos.
Authorities continue to seek Sharma, who is believed to be in India, as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. The incident has drawn widespread attention in both Canada and the Punjabi music community.
