The four Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar have been granted bail by a court in Canada.
The four accused Indian citizens – Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh – were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The trial has been moved to the British Columbia Supreme Court, with the next hearing scheduled for February 11.
Hardeep Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan leader, was assassinated in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia. The case gained global attention after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder. India has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless”.
The four Indian nationals were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in May 2024 from different parts of Canada. However, delays in presenting evidence by the prosecution during preliminary hearings drew criticism.
Court documents examined by India Today reveal that all four men were released under “stay of proceedings” while awaiting trial. They appeared before the Supreme Court during a hearing on November 18, 2024.
As per court records, the status of all four defendants was marked as ‘N’, indicating that they are “not” in custody. This means the individuals are not currently detained and may be out on bail or released under specific conditions while awaiting further court proceedings.
The Canadian government has invoked a “direct indictment”, transferring the case from the Surrey Provincial Court to the British Columbia Supreme Court. This legal manoeuvre bypasses a preliminary inquiry, expediting the case to trial.