A United States federal indictment charging imprisoned gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, with orchestrating the 2023 assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has significantly strengthened India's long-held position that the killing was the work of a transnational organised crime network — not the Indian government. The indictment, unsealed in the United States, makes no mention of Indian state involvement, a detail noted prominently by multiple Western media outlets and Canadian law enforcement.

What the US Indictment Says

Bishnoi, the 33-year-old head of the Bishnoi Gang and currently imprisoned in India, allegedly directed the plot against Nijjar from inside his prison cell. Brar, based in North America, reportedly oversaw on-ground operations. Critically, the indictment does not allege any role by the Indian government in the killing, according to reports.

According to a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News) report, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland stated that 'the investigation found no evidence that Indian officials were involved in the crimes alleged in today's announcement.' She further noted that 'the Indian government co-operated in the investigation.'

What Western Media Reported

Several American media organisations observed that the US charges focus squarely on organised crime networks, effectively undercutting earlier Canadian allegations of Indian state involvement. CNN reported on Wednesday that 'neither First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli nor any other official at a press conference in Los Angeles alleged that the Indian government was involved in or aware of the killing.'

Canada's The Globe and Mail described the killing and the controversy surrounding it as 'the catalyst in a geopolitical crisis,' adding that 'the US indictment accusing Mr Bishnoi and his associates is silent on the suggestion that agents of the Indian government were behind the killing.'

Background: How the Diplomatic Crisis Unfolded

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh separatist leader who campaigned for the creation of Khalistan, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. India had designated him a terrorist, accusing him of involvement in violent activities.

Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that Canadian authorities were pursuing 'credible allegations' linking Indian government agents to the murder. India rejected those claims as 'absurd.' The fallout was severe: both countries expelled senior diplomats, froze trade negotiations, and halted ministerial dialogues. Canada was also accused of tolerating Khalistani separatist activity on its soil.

The Diplomatic Thaw Under Carney

With Mark Carney becoming Prime Minister of Canada in May 2025, Ottawa began revisiting its approach toward India. Carney invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit in Alberta, a gesture that signalled a willingness to re-engage. Both countries subsequently reinstated their respective High Commissioners, resumed visa services, and restarted ministerial dialogues on trade, energy, environment, and security.

Former Canadian diplomat and Macdonald-Laurier Institute senior fellow Alan Kessel told the Toronto Sun that the invitation 'was a clear signal that Canada was back to engaging and not isolating.' The Toronto Sun had noted in October 2024 that bilateral relations were beginning to 'defrost' after years of distrust.

What This Means Going Forward

The US indictment effectively reframes the Nijjar case from an alleged act of state-sponsored assassination to a transnational organised crime operation. As both governments continue rebuilding diplomatic ties, the legal proceedings in the United States are likely to shape the remaining contours of the bilateral narrative. Security officials from India and Canada have already begun exchanging information on shared concerns — a concrete indicator that the relationship is moving beyond the crisis phase.