US charges Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar over Hardeep Nijjar murder case in Canada
The United States has charged jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar for allegedly ordering the assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023.
According to a federal indictment unsealed in Los Angeles, Bishnoi allegedly directed the killing of Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Nijjar, 45, was a Canadian citizen and a prominent figure associated with the Khalistan movement.
The indictment identified Nijjar as “HSN” in court documents and alleged that Bishnoi ordered the targeted killing, while Goldy Brar played a key role in coordinating activities of the criminal network in North America.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of USD 50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Goldy Brar, who remains wanted by American authorities.
Brar was charged with offences including racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to interfere with commerce through extortion, attempted interference with commerce through extortion, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The FBI said Brar has links to the United States, Canada, India and Mexico, and described him as a key figure connected to the Bishnoi criminal enterprise operating across international borders.
The charges were announced as part of “Operation Hardball”, a coordinated operation involving law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada and Europe. The operation resulted in the arrest of 24 people, including 11 in California, linked to three India-based transnational organised crime groups accused of involvement in crimes such as targeted killings, extortion, drug trafficking and violence.
US officials said the investigation targeted criminal networks involved in racketeering, shootings and international narcotics trafficking that have affected communities in the Indian diaspora.
According to the US Department of Justice, Bishnoi allegedly continued to control his criminal organisation through trusted associates despite being imprisoned in India since 2015. The indictment named Brar as the North American leader of the Bishnoi network, while Rohit Godara was identified as its European leader and Sukhraj Singh Kang as another key associate.
The indictment alleged that members of the group used encrypted messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, to threaten victims and their families while carrying out extortion activities.
The killing of Nijjar had severely impacted India-Canada relations after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents may have been involved in the murder. India rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
US officials said the latest action was the outcome of a long-running investigation into international criminal syndicates involved in violence and organised crime.
"Working together, law enforcement in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia are determined to target and dismantle these criminal organisations wherever they operate. There is no safe harbour for these thugs," US First Assistant Attorney William Essayli said.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme said the operation disrupted criminal groups that used violence, fear and intimidation to control people in Canada and the United States.
Authorities said investigations against the accused and their associates are continuing, with agencies searching for several fugitives across different countries.
