Named In Nijjar Case, Former Indian Envoy Says 'Trudeau Acted Without Evidence', Seeks Apology
Named In Nijjar Case, Indian Envoy Says 'Trudeau Acted Without Evidence', Seeks Apology Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 07:28 IST envoy Sanjay Verma
Named In Nijjar Case, Indian Envoy Says 'Trudeau Acted Without Evidence', Seeks Apology Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 07:28 IST envoy Sanjay Verma seeks an apology over Nijjar case allegations as India says RCMP remarks are consistent with the US indictment against Lawrence Bishnoi. Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma says "an apology is in order" after the US indictment in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case, while India says RCMP remarks are consistent with the charges (A photo of Sanjay Verma/Facebook) Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma has said that “an apology is in order" following the US indictment of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his aide Goldy Brar in connection with the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Verma, who was among the Indian officials accused by Ottawa during the diplomatic row, said the allegations against Indian diplomats severely damaged bilateral ties and their personal reputations. According to The Indian Express, Verma said former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should have waited for the investigation to be completed before publicly alleging Indian involvement in the Nijjar killing. “Probably, the statement (by Trudeau in the Canadian parliament) should have waited for the investigation to be completed so that it would have been based on some kind of due process. And that is what a mature statesman should do. Probably the advisors let the former Prime Minister down, and he was ready to announce something for which there was no credible evidence, no credible end of the investigation. Some more time should have been given before putting out such allegations against a friendly country," Verma was quoted as saying. The former envoy also said there had been no communication from Canadian authorities with him despite him being named among the “persons of interest" during the controversy.
“Because it not only destroyed the relationship, but also affected the families of all the diplomats and officials who were asked to leave Canada. And the government of India was kind enough to call us back. All of us have suffered, and we know that our prestige can never be restored in the way in which it has been maligned. But at least an apology is in order," Verma was quoted as saying. Verma further said multinational investigative agencies had identified non-state actors behind the killing and that the indictment did not name the Indian government, Indian officials or diplomats. “They (the multi-national investigating agencies) have identified non-state actors and clearly said which criminal gang has operated where and how, and who its members are. So it is not just wild allegations against someone," he said. He added, “The investigation is very clear that the indictment which has been presented now in the public does not include the state of India, the government of India, Indian officials, or diplomats. So, therefore, the allegation part of it, which used to be peddled earlier, is no longer valid post this indictment. Now, we should allow the investigation to move ahead, and the judicial process to take its course." INDIA SAYS RCMP REMARKS ARE CONSISTENT WITH US INDICTMENT Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said India has noted remarks by a senior Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) official that investigators have found no evidence linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s assassination. The government said those comments are consistent with the recently unsealed US indictment against members of the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime group. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the announcements made by the US Department of Justice regarding the indictments and enforcement action against transnational organised criminal networks operating across several countries." He reiterated India’s long-standing position, saying, “India has consistently maintained that transnational organised crime, terrorism, narco-trafficking, human trafficking, illegal firearms trafficking and related criminal networks pose a serious threat to our societies." Highlighting cooperation with Washington, Jaiswal said, “India and the US enjoy strong and growing cooperation in combating terrorism as well as transnational organised crime.
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