The Refugee Council of Canada has ordered the deportation of an alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang member who tried to prevent the press from covering his case.
At a hearing on Friday, Sahibjot Singh admitted handing over prohibited weapons to a criminal organisation, and admitted being deported.
Although he denied being a member of a criminal group, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) accused him of belonging to the Bishnoi gang.
Singh, who appeared on camera from his lawyer’s office in Edmonton, is the latest among dozens of Indian nationals to face deportation for their involvement in extortion rings.
Before the hearing began, Singh tried to prevent journalists from pursuing his case, arguing that he feared “possible retaliation” over his alleged involvement with the Bishnoi group.
“Furthermore, publishing Mr. Singh’s identity would expose him to significant stigma and discrimination in Canada and could expose him to additional risk if returned to India,” his lawyer wrote.
Singh also said he faces pending criminal charges in Canada, and that the publicity surrounding his deportation will impact his upcoming trial.
Global News successfully fought the publication ban.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada also opposed a ban on the case, writing that “the proceedings involving alleged members of the Bishnoi gang are of significant public interest.”
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“Canadians should have the right to understand who these individuals are, how they became involved in Canada, the nature and extent of their activities, whether they acted independently or at the direction of others, and what role they may have played in acts of transnational violence, intimidation and repression,” the organization wrote.
The Immigration and Refugee Board ruled on June 26 that Canadians have a right to transparency about how law enforcement agencies respond to racketeering-related crimes, and that a public hearing would not prejudice Singh’s criminal proceedings.
In its decision to approve his extradition, the council said Edmonton police linked the India-based extortion ring’s activity in Alberta to several countries.
Board member Trent Cook said in his ruling that investigators intercepted phone calls from France, Portugal and the Netherlands as well as from within Canada.
“It shows that there is an international element,” he said.
The gang has a hierarchy, with “individuals at the top providing instructions and directions to subordinates below,” Cook said in his decision.
He added: “It is a sophisticated network of individuals who relied on each other to commit these crimes.” “It is a long-standing, unified group of people working in unison to terrorize victims.”
Operating out of an Indian prison, Lawrence Bishnoi runs a transnational criminal group that profits from murder-for-hire and extortion.
It preys on South Asian Canadians by sending them letters demanding large sums of money and then opening fire on their homes and businesses.
Canadian police have arrested suspected Bishnoi members in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, but several have been referred to the Canada Border Services Agency for deportation to India.
Most of them came to Canada on work and study permits.
the CSA said 484 investigations were opened as a result of extortion task forces across the country, and 139 deportation orders had been issued as of June 18.
Eighty-one people have already been removed from Canada. These numbers date back to June 18. The Canada Border Services Agency said it was its latest statistics.
On July 7 in the United States Lawrence accused Bishnoi And his lieutenant in North America Goldie Brar By blackmail – in addition to carrying out the assassination of British Columbia Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nigar in 2023.
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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