4 hours ago
Canadian officials have rejected reports claiming that four Indians accused of the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia have been granted bail. They clarified that all the accused remain in custody under mandatory detention orders.
A British Columbia court, which ordered the mandatory detention, has scheduled the next hearing for February, Ann Seymour, a senior official at the Canadian Ministry of Attorney General, said.
The accused are set to appear on February 11 for a case management conference, during which pre-trial applications will be addressed, and trial dates are expected to be set.
The court-imposed detention orders ensure that the accused will remain in custody until the trial begins. While a judge may review a bail application at a later stage, the gravity of the charges--first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder--makes bail unlikely.
Specifically addressing reports suggesting that the accused had been released, Seymour clarified that no such action has been taken, emphasising that no bail hearings are currently scheduled for the accused.
“The court imposed mandatory detention orders on all four accused. All four accused continue to remain in custody, and there are no bail hearings scheduled,” Seymour said.
Although court records marked the custody status of the accused as 'N,' indicating they were not detained and sparking reports of their release, the official, Seymour, confirmed that they remain in custody under detention orders.
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has become a flashpoint in diplomatic relations between India and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged the possible involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjar’s murder--a claim India has categorically rejected as “absurd” and “politically motivated”.
India has long accused Canada of providing a safe haven for extremist elements and supporters of the Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate state for Sikhs. This issue has been a persistent irritant in bilateral ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also criticised Canada for failing to provide concrete evidence or formal communication regarding the murder, despite the arrests of Indian nationals in connection with the case.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) in British Columbia, which is leading the investigation, has charged the accused with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. However, Canadian authorities have not yet presented any evidence publicly to substantiate claims of an Indian link, despite ongoing speculation in the Canadian media.
Published On:
Jan 10, 2025
