VANCOUVER, Canada (Diya TV) — British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government has no information that the Indian government has been involved in extortion activities in the Canadian province. His comments come as concerns grow about foreign interference and transnational crime targeting South Asian communities in Canada.
Eby made the remarks during an interview with CTV Power Play earlier this week. The issue has drawn attention after several violent extortion incidents in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. Authorities continue to investigate the cases, which have become a major public safety concern.
Eby said provincial leaders have not received any evidence linking India’s government to the extortion cases.
“I want to be clear: At this point, we do not have any information,” Eby said during the interview. He added that police investigators may have additional information, but provincial officials have not seen proof connecting Indian government agents to the crimes.
“For what we have information for at the political level, at least in British Columbia, we don’t have information about the Indian government’s involvement in extortion,” Eby said.
The premier stressed that law enforcement agencies are responsible for the investigation. He said authorities should include any credible evidence in their ongoing inquiries.
Eby said investigators have received allegations involving the Bishnoi Gang. The gang has been linked to organized crime activity that originates in India but extends to international networks. Canada’s federal government recently listed the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist criminal organization operating mainly out of India. Officials believe the group may have connections to some of the extortion incidents affecting South Asian businesses in British Columbia.
Eby described the rise in extortion threats and related violence as the province’s “No. 1 public safety issue.” Many incidents have targeted business owners in the South Asian community across the Lower Mainland area. Police continue to investigate several shootings, threats, and intimidation cases connected to the extortion scheme.
Eby’s remarks appear to differ from earlier claims made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 2024. At that time, the RCMP accused Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada of participating in covert activities linked to serious crimes, including homicides and extortion. Those claims followed a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India.
In 2023, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian intelligence agencies had “credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar died in a shooting outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The incident sparked global attention and led to a sharp diplomatic clash between the two countries. India strongly denied the accusations.
Current Prime Minister Mark Carney recently faced questions about whether India still poses a foreign interference threat in Canada. Some senior Canadian officials told reporters last week that India may no longer be actively interfering in Canadian affairs. However, Carney avoided confirming that claim during a media appearance after returning from a visit to India.
“I would not use those words,” Carney said when asked whether the threat had ended.
Reporters also asked Carney about a report from The Globe and Mail that suggested evidence links officials at India’s Vancouver consulate to Nijjar’s killing. Carney declined to comment directly. He said the matter remains part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
“This is a criminal procedure. It’s a process underway,” Carney said. “My job at this point is to make sure that I do not say anything that prejudices the prospect of justice being served.”
He said authorities must allow investigators and courts to complete their work.
India’s top diplomat in Canada has also rejected allegations of interference. Dinesh K. Patnaik told reporters during Carney’s recent visit to India that foreign interference by India was never an issue.
“It never happened,” Patnaik said when journalists repeatedly asked about the accusations.
Despite the political debate, extortion-related violence continues to worry communities in British Columbia. Police agencies have increased investigations and monitoring in areas with large South Asian populations. Officials say organized crime groups may be exploiting international networks to threaten businesses and collect illegal payments.
Authorities have urged victims to report threats and cooperate with investigators. For now, Eby says his government will focus on supporting police work and improving public safety while the investigations continue.
