US Charges Bishnoi, Goldy Brar for Nijjar's Killing in Canada

According to an indictment unsealed in a federal court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Bishnoi allegedly ordered the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Nijjar was identified as "HSN" in the court documents.

The FBI announced a reward of $50,000 for information leading to Brar's arrest. It said a federal arrest warrant was issued against him on July 1 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, extortion conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy. The FBI said Brar has ties to California, Canada, India and Mexico.

The charges were announced as part of "Operation Hardball", a coordinated action involving law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada and Europe. Twenty-four people were arrested for their alleged links to three India-based transnational organised crime groups. Authorities said the charges include Nijjar's assassination, extortion, targeted killings, shootings and international drug trafficking.

First assistant US attorney Bill Essayli said the operation targeted organised crime groups operating across multiple countries. The US justice department said the investigation was the result of a years-long probe into Indian crime syndicates engaged in racketeering, targeted killings, extortion and narcotics trafficking.

According to the indictment, Bishnoi delegated control of his organisation to trusted associates, including Brar, who allegedly headed the group's North American operations, Rohit Godara, who oversaw operations in Europe, and Sukhraj Singh Kang. Investigators alleged that Brar and Godara directed members of the syndicate and coordinated acts of violence in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

The indictment also alleged that Bishnoi, Brar, Godara and others extorted victims through WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging applications by threatening violence against them or their family members.

In all, 37 accused, including two alleged gang leaders operating their criminal syndicates from Indian prisons, were charged under three indictments unsealed on Tuesday. Authorities arrested 13 accused in the United States, three in Canada and one in Spain, while seven were already in custody. Ten others remain absconding, including Brar.

Nijjar's killing had severely strained India-Canada relations after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged links between the Indian government and the murder. India rejected the allegation as "absurd" and "motivated."

FBI assistant director Patrick Grandy said the coordinated operation targeted transnational criminal organisations involved in violent crimes across several countries. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme said the agencies had disrupted organised crime networks that used murder, intimidation and extortion to operate in Canada and the United States.