Dinesh Patnaik, in an interview published by The Globe and Mail on May 26, strongly rejected allegations of Indian state involvement in crimes on Canadian soil, describing several of the claims as “fantasy.” He also questioned the credibility of Canadian intelligence agencies over their handling of the Khalistan issue. Patnaik alleged that sections of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had been influenced by Khalistani separatist groups operating from Canada and claimed there was a widespread perception in India that Canada’s security establishment had been “compromised.” Referring to the Nijjar investigation and broader allegations of Indian interference, Patnaik stated that Khalistani groups had turned Canada into a base for separatist activities directed against Punjab. He further argued that intelligence narratives against India had been shaped by political considerations, while distinguishing what he termed “real issues” related to extremism and security concerns from allegations linking the Indian government to criminal acts in Canada.

According to a report by Global News, after alleging the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada’s Justice Department has moved to withhold certain sensitive national security evidence in the ongoing trial. Federal lawyers representing the Attorney General of Canada have filed an application in Federal Court under Section 38 of the Canada Evidence Act, seeking permission to suppress specific evidence on the grounds that its disclosure could be “injurious to international relations and national security.” The application states that the Attorney General received four notices in 2024 and 2025 flagging sensitive or potentially injurious information related to the case. Meanwhile, the British Columbia Prosecution Service, which is prosecuting the four accused, declined to comment, citing the pretrial stage of the case and an existing publication ban.

Leaders of Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), and Panch Pardani Jatha—including Simranjit Singh Mann, Kanwar Pal Singh, Narien Singh, and Paramjit Singh Mand—stated at a February 16 press conference in Amritsar that justice in the cases of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun should not be compromised for diplomatic considerations, nor should the indictment of those accused of crimes against humanity be used as leverage in trade negotiations. They cautiously welcomed the indictment of Nikhil Gupta by the United States Department of Justice, noting that he has accepted involvement in an attempted murder plot targeting Pannun.

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty in the United States (US) to his role in a plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, allegedly told an undercover agent of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that Hardeep Singh Nijjar “was also a target” a day after Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen earlier designated a terrorist by the Indian government for his involvement in pro-Khalistan activities, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey. Citing court documents, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) stated that on or about June 19, 2023—the day after the killing—Gupta told the undercover DEA officer that Nijjar “was also a target,” adding, “We have so many targets.” The DoJ described Nijjar as an associate of Pannun, chief of the banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The statement referred to Pannun as a vocal critic of the Indian government who leads a US-based group advocating Punjab’s secession to establish a sovereign Sikh state called Khalistan.

According to sources, the Canadian trial related to the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains at the pre-trial stage. Proceedings involving four Indian nationals are unlikely to move to the trial phase or have dates fixed before August this year. The development comes a day after Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty in the United States (US) to plotting the assassination of pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. US authorities have linked the alleged conspiracy to kill the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) general counsel to Nijjar’s murder.

Dinesh Patnaik, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, stated in a February 14 interview that if credible evidence links members of the Indian establishment to the crime, New Delhi will cooperate with Canada and take appropriate action; referring to the trial of four Indian nationals accused of murdering pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, he cautioned that the outcome remains uncertain. “We have nothing to worry about on this account. We want to work with the Canadians to bring the perpetrators to justice. And if we find there are elements within our own establishment involved, and there is evidence to prove the link, then we will take action,” he said.

In an interview with CBC News on January 14, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh K. Patnaik dismissed Canada’s longstanding allegations linking New Delhi to the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar stating that the case involves four individuals and not the Indian government. He also noted that the Air India bombing investigation has yet to secure a single conviction, despite India raising concerns about terrorism in Canada for over 40 years.

A poster widely circulating on social media advertises a planned protest in Milan, Italy, linked to individuals associated with the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Reports said the protest is being promoted by Jagroop Singh and Gurpal Singh, identified as SFJ-affiliated activists. The poster attempts to link the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada with the death of Osman Hadi in Bangladesh, presenting them within a single narrative to connect unrelated incidents across different countries under a common ideological framework.

A Bloomberg Originals documentary titled “Inside the Deaths That Rocked India’s Relations With the West” claimed that the United Kingdom (UK)’s intelligence agency, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), provided Canada with a dossier of intercepted communications alleging India’s involvement in plots to assassinate Khalistan separatists. According to the film, the Cheltenham-based signals intelligence agency intercepted conversations discussing three potential “targets” — Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK, and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. The documentary alleges that those involved in the conversations were “working on behalf of the Indian government.”

Khalistani terrorist and chief of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on October 16 issued a threat to Indian comedian and actor Kapil Sharma, demanding that he either shut down his café in Canada or speak out against India. Pannun described Sharma’s café as a “symbol of Modi’s violent Hindutva ideology,” which he claimed was responsible for the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Earlier, shots were fired at Sharma’s restaurant in Surrey, Canada — an attack for which the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility.

The British Columbia Supreme Court in New Westminster, on October 7, again adjourned the hearing for four persons charged with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, moving it to a case management conference on November 20, with another hearing scheduled for December 15. Nijjar was shot dead on June 18, 2023, and four individuals of Indian origin—Amandeep Singh, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh—are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Pro-Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), held a protest outside the courthouse where the hearing was taking place.

According to government sources, Canadian authorities have arrested Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on multiple firearms-related charges in Ottawa, Canada. Gosal, who rose as a key SFJ coordinator in Canada after the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, was held for illegal possession of firearms, though police have not specified the number or type of weapons seized. The arrest comes just days after Indian and Canadian National Security Advisers (NSAs) met in New Delhi on September 18, signalling possible cooperation on terrorism concerns.

According to reports, the trial of four Indian nationals accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is unlikely to begin before late 2026, with the pretrial process expected to continue for several months. The four accused remain in custody under a detention order. Trial dates are yet to be set, but pretrial applications will begin in January 2026 and continue until August 2026, said Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service.

The Khalistani separatist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on September 18 staged a day-long protest outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, Canada to mark two years since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim of Indian involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun described the demonstration as both “remembrance” and “resistance.”

The banned Khalistani group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on September 17, issued a public notice threatening a 12-hour “siege” of the Indian consulate in Vancouver, Canada starting 8 am on September 18. The notice warned Indo-Canadians against visiting the consulate, accused Indian missions of running “spy networks” against Khalistan referendum activists, and cited former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian agents’ involvement in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. SFJ also released a poster targeting India’s High Commissioner-designate Dinesh Patnaik, branding him the “new face of India’s Hindutva terror in Canada.”

Inderjeet Singh Gosal, Sikhs For Justice’s Canada coordinator, on September 11, said he has received warnings from police of an imminent threat to his life but declined entry into witness protection, in Canada. Gosal, who took over SFJ’s Canada role after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in June 2023, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alerted him on September 10 and formally offered protection. He alleged that Indian government agents are continuously targeting him.

India’s High Commission in Ottawa, on August 5, responded to signage promoting the so-called "Republic of Khalistan Embassy" at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, which featured images of Khalistani militants and terrorists Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The High Commission stated that Canadian soil must not be allowed to be used for anti-India activities that threaten the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The National Alliance of Indo-Canadians (NAIC) also expressed concern over the development, stating that it “condemns such reckless acts by fringe elements that hurt Indo-Canadians.”

On July 5, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj paid tributes to Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gajinder Singh during an event organised by radical groups, including Dal Khalsa, to mark their death anniversaries at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar district. During the event, the organisers also urged the SGPC to install portraits of the two individuals in the Central Sikh Museum.

Nijjar Trucking, a business owned by Raghbir Singh Nijjar—the cousin of deceased Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—was fired upon in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on June 19. Raghbir alleged that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was responsible for the attack, linking it to an ongoing extortion campaign targeting South Asian business owners in the region.

Canada’s premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), on June 18 released its annual report stating that India has shown a 'clear intent' to target members of the Sikh separatist movement in North America. This assessment follows CSIS’s acknowledgment that Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) pose a persistent threat, engaging in activities such as extremist financing and planning violence directed at India. The report cited the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a significant escalation in India’s alleged countermeasures against the movement.

On June 18, dozens of pro-Khalistan activists protested outside the Indian consulate marking two years since the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver, in British Columbia province in Canada. Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey in Canada in 2023.

Speaking to the press in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 17, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that he must be 'careful' in commenting on the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar due to the ongoing judicial process. He also confirmed that he had discussed law enforcement cooperation and issues related to transnational repression with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting at the G7 Summit.

On June 11, former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Rubin, strongly criticised former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for amplifying what he described as exaggerated claims about Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the Khalistan movement, during an interview with ANI. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategic diplomacy and urged the Canadian government to take firm action against Khalistani extremism.

Former Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa Ajay Bisaria on May 14 welcomed Anita Anand’s appointment as Canada’s new Foreign Minister, expressing hope for improved India-Canada ties. He praised her diplomatic record and Indian roots. Experts see a chance for a reset amid tensions over the Nijjar issue, with Anand and PM Mark Carney signalling willingness to mend relations.

Canada’s Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister (PM) candidate Pierre Poilievre, on April 20, attended the Khalsa Day Parade in Surrey, British Columbia, where he shared the stage with designated Khalistani terrorist Santokh Singh Khela — the Jathedar of the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and a convict in the Air India Flight 112 bombing plot. During the event, Khela, seen wielding an axe, pledged to continue the fight for Khalistan and to fulfil the separatist agenda of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

According to a recent report by The Pioneer, sections of the Sikh community in Brampton, Canada, have alleged ongoing foreign interference, particularly from the Indian government. They claim that disinformation campaigns and diaspora networks are being used to influence local politics, contributing to growing polarization—especially following the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The report also highlights concerns over China's alleged involvement in manipulating voter sentiments and political donations. Community members are now calling for greater transparency and stronger safeguards to uphold Canada's democratic processes against external influence.

Indo-Canadian candidate Viresh Bansal, running in the Ontario election for the Oshawa riding, was suspended by Canada’s Liberal Party on February 21 after offensive social media posts attributed to him surfaced. Bansal apologised for comments made in 2023 regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and a homophobic slur against Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau. Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie condemned the remarks, but no decision has been made on cancelling his candidature. The Ontario elections are scheduled for February 27, with the ruling Conservatives expected to retain power.

On January 28, a Canadian report titled ‘Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions’ stated that “no definitive link” with a “foreign state” was proven in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, contradicting Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau’s allegations against India. The same report also accused India of interfering in Canadian elections, a claim strongly refuted by India.

Al Jazeera English’s documentary, The Khalistan Assassinations, alleges Indian officials, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel, were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The film highlights Nijjar's advocacy for Khalistan, his 2024 terrorist designation by India, and the diplomatic fallout after his killing. It also claims Indian intelligence’s role in a failed assassination attempt on Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States (US), raising concerns over India’s alleged transnational actions.

Ann Seymour of the British Columbia (BC) Prosecution Service, on January 9, confirmed that four Indian nationals accused of murdering Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—identified as Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh—remain in custody. The trial will proceed before the British Columbia Supreme Court, with a case management conference scheduled for February 11, 2025. Seymour also clarified that reports claiming the accused had been released on bail are false.

On January 9, misinformation about the release on bail of Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh—accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—spread widely due to misinterpreted court records and unverified social media claims. Ann Seymour of the British Columbia (BC) Prosecution Service refuted these reports, confirming that the accused remain in custody. Their next court appearances are scheduled for February 11, 2025.

In a recent video message, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatened the Russian and Indian Ambassadors and issued a death threat against the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He offered a reward of USD 25,000 for information about the Russian and Indian Ambassadors and blamed Russia for its alleged role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Pannun also accused Russia of compromising or hacking electronic devices belonging to him and Nijjar.

The Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) alleged via the social media platform X on December 18 that the Russian Embassy in Canada hacked the Telegram account of deceased Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and shared information with India’s RAW, allegedly leading to his assassination in June 2023. SFJ further claimed that the Telegram account of its chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was compromised as part of a foiled murder plot.

According to sources, India is re-evaluating its visa and OCI policies following strained ties with Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India will continue denying visas to pro-Khalistani Canadians despite criticism, signalling a shift from its earlier efforts to reintegrate pro-Khalistan individuals, as it now prioritizes caution amid escalating tensions.

In a letter dated December 10, British Security Minister Dan Jarvis assured British Sikhs that the government would not tolerate intimidation or harm by foreign powers, following complaints of alleged targeting by the Indian government. Jarvis urged India to cooperate with Canadian authorities regarding the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, emphasizing the importance of respecting sovereignty and the rule of law.

The Punjab Police on December 7 attached properties belonging to members of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), identified as Inderjit Singh Bajwa and Ranjodh Singh alias Baba, in connection with the Batala shootout case. The shootout, which occurred on June 24, 2023, injured Shiv Sena leader Rajiv Mahajan and his relatives. The attack was allegedly orchestrated by Bajwa and Baba to avenge the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

The Canadian government has invoked a direct indictment against four Indian citizens accused in the murder of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, allowing the trial to proceed directly to the British Columbia Supreme Court in New Westminster. The four accused, identified as Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, were arrested in May 2024. They face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy, with the trial scheduled to begin in February 2025.

Canadian National Security Advisor Nathalie Drouin, on November 22, officially denied any evidence implicating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, or NSA Ajit Doval in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The statement counters earlier media claims, dismissed by India as baseless smear campaigns harming bilateral ties.

Canadian publication The Globe and Mail published a contentious story alleging that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar were aware of a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The claims, based on unnamed Canadian intelligence sources, were strongly dismissed by India as baseless and part of a smear campaign. This development follows a series of accusations by the Trudeau government, seen as efforts to appease Khalistani elements for political gains, further exacerbating tensions between India and Canada.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in New Delhi on November 20, dismissed a Canadian news report claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's awareness of a plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaiswal labeled the allegations a “smear campaign” and rejected them as “ludicrous,” emphasizing that such claims only exacerbate already strained India-Canada relations.

According to sources, Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who was recently arrested in the United States (US), is likely to be handed over to Canadian authorities first in connection with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While India has sought his extradition, he is currently being interrogated by US authorities. Anmol is implicated in several high-profile crimes, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and a shooting outside actor Salman Khan's residence.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in New Delhi on November 14, announced that India will actively pursue the extradition of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, following his recent arrest in Canada. Dalla, a designated terrorist in India and a close associate of the deceased Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is wanted for multiple serious criminal offences.

Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, recently arrested by Canadian police, was a close associate of former Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He is wanted in over 53 cases in India and is accused of recruiting individuals for terror activities. Despite multiple extradition requests from India, Canadian authorities have yet to act on these appeals.

Tariq Kiani, an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in a video message, defended the recent violence by Khalistani extremists at the Hindu Sabha temple in Canada, blaming Hindus for instigating the clashes. Intelligence sources revealed that Kiani’s attacks on Indian leaders are directed by ISI, and both he and his associate, Rahat Rao, are under Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) scrutiny in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

According to sources, the assassination of Ripudaman Singh Malik in July 2022, which sent shockwaves through Canada and highlighted deep historical, political, and religious divisions within the Sikh community, was allegedly orchestrated by Khalistani factions, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Malik reportedly became a target after he publicly praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2022.

Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, while speaking in New Delhi on October 21, criticized the Canadian government for its double standards in handling pro-Khalistan activities and the Hardeep Singh Nijjar row. He condemned Canada’s use of 'freedom of speech' as a defense when India raised concerns about threats to its diplomats. Jaishankar also referenced historical tensions, including the 1985 Air India bombing.

According to official sources, Ottawa has been pressuring New Delhi over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar but has refused to share his death certificate with Indian agencies, a legal requirement for criminal proceedings. Despite India’s repeated requests, Canada has not provided any evidence to support its allegations against Indian officials.

According to a Reuters report, Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for a Sikh advocacy group in British Columbia, Canada, has twice been warned by Canadian police of imminent assassination threats, forcing him to stay away from his family for extended periods. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have reportedly communicated over a dozen such threats to Sikh activists in Canada. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations linking Indian officials to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

According to reports, the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, is set to honour four Khalistani terrorists—Kulwinder Singh alias Happy, Kanwarjit Singh Sultanwind, Nirmal Singh Mianvid, and Talwinder Singh Parmar—on October 20. The gurdwara was formerly led by Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Pro-Khalistani elements on October 18 staged a protest outside the Indian consulate in Toronto, Canada, where they desecrated the Indian flag and attacked an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the 16-month anniversary of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death. The protesters also demanded the closure of Indian consulates in Canada and raised slogans such as 'Kill Modi Politics' and 'Long Live Khalistan.