Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A newly surfaced intelligence document from Canada’s national police force has reignited controversy over alleged foreign-linked criminal activity operating on Canadian soil. The report asserts that Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious Indian gangster currently imprisoned in Gujarat, continues to command a far-reaching criminal organisation despite being behind bars.
The confidential Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) assessment, accessed by Global News, paints a picture of an organised network involved in extortion, narcotics distribution and targeted killings. Investigators allege that the syndicate remains active in several countries, including Canada, and has been responsible for a series of violent incidents connected to intimidation and financial gain.
The report’s release comes at a delicate juncture, as New Delhi and Ottawa move toward restarting stalled trade negotiations following months of diplomatic friction.
Bishnoi has been lodged in Sabarmati Jail since 2015, yet Canadian authorities believe he has continued to issue instructions through encrypted communications and trusted lieutenants. One of the key figures named is Goldy Brar, also known as Satinderjeet Singh, who is believed to oversee operations outside India. The RCMP estimates the network includes hundreds of members spread across multiple continents.
Beyond conventional organised crime, the report advances more serious claims, alleging that Indian state actors may have leveraged criminal groups to pursue individuals associated with the Khalistan movement overseas. The document refers to the 2023 shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, and the killing of Sukhdool Singh in Winnipeg—both men whom India had previously identified as extremists.
According to the RCMP, communications gathered during investigations suggest a possible link between these crimes and senior figures in the Indian establishment, a charge that has already triggered sharp diplomatic fallout. India has categorically denied any involvement, calling earlier accusations unfounded and politically motivated.
In October 2024, Canadian authorities publicly disclosed that they were examining evidence pointing to coordination between agents of the Indian government and the Bishnoi syndicate. India responded by expelling Canadian diplomats and recalling its top envoy from Ottawa, signalling a major downturn in bilateral relations.
At the time of publication, no official comment had been issued by the Indian government, the Gujarat prison administration or India’s diplomatic mission in Canada regarding the contents of the RCMP report.
The allegations add a new layer of complexity to Canada–India ties, raising questions about transnational crime, state accountability and the challenges of managing security concerns amid efforts to restore economic and diplomatic engagement.
