A major development has emerged in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a case that strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada. U.S. federal prosecutors have filed charges against jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar, alleging they conspired to orchestrate Nijjar’s murder. The charges are part of a broader crackdown on transnational organized crime under an investigation codenamed “Operation Hardball.” Authorities have arrested 24 suspects linked to three India-based criminal networks operating across North America and Europe. The latest developments have also renewed scrutiny over earlier allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the involvement of Indian officials.
Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. The killing triggered a major diplomatic dispute after Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the assassination. He claimed the incident violated Canada’s sovereignty and accused Indian diplomats of supporting criminal networks targeting Canadian citizens. India strongly rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated and demanding credible evidence. The Indian government maintained that Canada had failed to substantiate its claims.
According to the FBI charge sheet, Lawrence Bishnoi planned the killing while lodged in an Indian prison, with Goldy Brar coordinating the operation from North America. U.S. prosecutors allege Bishnoi communicated with associates using smuggled mobile phones and shared Nijjar’s photograph and address to facilitate the attack. As part of Operation Hardball, authorities arrested 24 alleged gang members across the United States, Canada, and Europe, including 11 in California. The investigation also names Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Singh Dhanda as key figures, accusing them of running an international criminal network involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and organized crime across multiple countries.
The U.S. Justice Department said the operation resulted in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine and illegal firearms, with three federal indictments filed against a total of 37 individuals. However, officials emphasized that the filing of charges does not amount to a conviction and that all accused remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who was previously lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail before being shifted to Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat in 2023, has long been accused by Indian authorities of running a criminal network from inside prison using illegally obtained mobile phones. His gang has been linked to the murders of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and NCP leader Baba Siddique, repeated threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan, and attacks on comedian Kapil Sharma’s café. Following a series of violent incidents abroad, Canada officially designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization last year after restoring diplomatic engagement with India.
