Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland stated on 8 July that investigators found no evidence connecting Indian government officials to the US probe that resulted in federal indictments against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and 36 other defendants across three transnational criminal organisations. The clarification directly addresses allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were linked to the June 2023 killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

What the US Indictments Cover

US authorities unsealed three federal indictments charging 37 defendants linked to transnational criminal networks with offences including racketeering, murder, extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. The charges followed a years-long multinational investigation spanning the United States, Canada, and Europe. Among those named are Lawrence Bishnoi and alleged North American leader Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, accused of ordering the 18 June 2023 assassination of a man identified in court documents only as 'H.S.N' — widely understood to refer to Nijjar — in Surrey, British Columbia.

What RCMP Deputy Commissioner Moreland Said

When asked directly whether the newly unsealed indictments supported allegations against the Indian government, Moreland replied: 'No.' She drew a clear distinction between the US-led organised crime probe and the separate Canadian criminal case, noting she could not comment on the latter as charges remain active. 'In relation to this matter today, as stated in the press conference, there's no evidence to suggest that through this organised crime investigation and the charges and the indictment laid forward, that Indian officials were charged or were involved in this investigation,' she said. She further noted that over 50 search warrants were executed on the same day and that the investigation remains ongoing, but reiterated: 'Nothing has come out today to link the Indian government.'

India's Cooperation With Investigators

Moreland also confirmed that Indian authorities cooperated with investigators throughout the multinational operation. 'In this investigation, as you noted from our US partners, that the Indian government was cooperating in this investigation. We work shoulder and shoulder with the FBI and other agencies to address this,' she said. The acknowledgement of Indian cooperation marks a notable contrast with the diplomatic friction that followed Trudeau's public allegations in September 2023, which New Delhi firmly denied.

Background: The Nijjar Killing and Diplomatic Fallout

The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June 2023 outside a Sikh temple in Surrey set off one of the most serious diplomatic ruptures between India and Canada in recent memory. Trudeau's assertion in Parliament that Indian agents were 'potentially' involved prompted reciprocal expulsions of diplomats and a prolonged freeze in bilateral ties. India consistently rejected the allegations as politically motivated. The RCMP's latest statement — emerging from a separate, US-led criminal proceeding — adds a significant data point to that contested narrative. This is the first time a senior Canadian law enforcement official has publicly stated, in the context of a formal investigation, that no link to Indian officials has been established.

What Comes Next

The organised crime investigation remains active, with intelligence and digital evidence still being processed from the 50-plus search warrants executed. The separate Canadian criminal case into Nijjar's killing continues independently. Analysts note that the diplomatic relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa — still fragile — will be closely watched for any official response from either government following these developments.