Authorities have filed charges against the leader of an Indian international crime syndicate in connection with the assassination of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada, a development that previously strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. The charges were revealed Tuesday as part of a broad law enforcement operation targeting 37 defendants across the United States, Canada, and Europe, who are allegedly involved with three Indian international crime syndicates. These groups are accused of a range of illicit activities, including kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking, and murder.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated at a news conference that these groups have “fueled violence, fear and instability within the East Indian communities throughout California and abroad.” The FBI’s Los Angeles field office assistant director in charge, Patrick Grandy, also spoke at the conference, alongside officials from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his associate Satinderjeet Singh are accused of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh independence activist. Nijjar was fatally shot in 2023 outside a temple where he served as president. Bishnoi is currently in custody, while Singh remains at large. U.S. authorities are seeking seven fugitives domestically, with two more in India and one in Europe.
Bishnoi's organization allegedly engaged in targeted violence against prominent religious, social, and political leaders for substantial financial compensation.
Nijjar, who was 45 at the time of his death, was a key figure in the movement advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan. He was reportedly organizing an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora through the organization Sikhs For Justice. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, was wanted by Indian authorities, who had offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.
The activism within the Sikh diaspora has long been a point of contention between India and Canada. Canada hosts one of the largest Sikh populations outside of India, and India has frequently accused Canada of harboring "terrorists and extremists." The diplomatic dispute led to both nations expelling diplomats from each other's countries.
The investigation, spanning two years, also identified two other criminal organizations facing similar charges. These transnational groups reportedly have members in countries including the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Members are also accused of stealing significant quantities of drugs from other criminal operations in California and distributing them nationally and into Canada.
Indictments suggest some defendants utilized connections with corrupt local officials in India to target rivals or individuals perceived as cooperating with law enforcement. In one instance, a defendant is accused of directing criminal activities from within an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, though the exact methods of communication remain unclear.
Authorities presented the operation as a successful example of international law enforcement collaboration. "Working together, law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia are determined to target and dismantle these criminal organizations wherever they operate," Essayli said.