The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has found no evidence linking the Indian government to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, officials announced on July 8, 2026. The conclusion contradicts former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2023 allegations, which had strained diplomatic ties between Canada and India.

RCMP Investigation Clears India in Nijjar Killing

Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland confirmed that the RCMP’s probe into transnational organized crime uncovered no involvement by Indian officials. “There’s no evidence to suggest through this investigation that Indian officials were involved,” Moreland told CBC News. Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India and leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was fatally shot outside a Surrey, British Columbia gurdwara in June 2023.

Global Crackdown on India-Based Crime Syndicates

The RCMP’s findings align with U.S. charges against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and associate Satinderjeet Singh (alias Goldy Brar) for orchestrating Nijjar’s murder. Under Operation Hardball, authorities in North America and Europe arrested 24 individuals tied to three India-based crime networks. The U.S. Justice Department unsealed indictments against 37 defendants, including two imprisoned in India, for crimes such as:

  • Targeted killings, including Nijjar’s (coded as "HSN" in court documents)
  • Drug trafficking and extortion
  • Cross-border kidnappings and violent enforcement

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme emphasized the operation’s role in dismantling “organized criminals who used murder and fear to control people in Canada and the U.S.” The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for Brar’s capture.

Canada-India Relations Rebound After Diplomatic Crisis

Ties between Ottawa and New Delhi deteriorated following Nijjar’s death, leading to the expulsion of diplomats in October 2024. However, relations improved after Liberal leader Mark Carney became Canada’s prime minister in April 2025. A March 2026 visit to India further restored cooperation, with both nations reinstating high commissioners.

As legal proceedings against Bishnoi and Brar proceed, the case remains a focal point for international law enforcement and observers tracking Khalistani activism and transnational crime.