Canadian Police Decline To Authenticate Audio Allegedly Linked to Nijjar Killing
Toronto: Canadian authorities are aware of an audio recording that allegedly features gangster Goldy Brar discussing the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar was shot dead on June 18, 2023. The audio has been circulating online but has not been independently verified.
A spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told the Hindustan Times that the force was aware of reports about the recording.
The spokesperson said the RCMP was “not in a position to confirm, deny, authenticate, or otherwise comment on the origin, content, or evidentiary value of materials that have been published or shared publicly”.
Claims In The Recording
The audio allegedly features Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar. He was previously described as a close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in North America. Brar is now believed to lead a rival group.
In the recording, the speaker allegedly claims responsibility for Nijjar’s killing. He accuses Nijjar of supporting people who supplied drugs to young people.
Speaking in Punjabi, he allegedly says some individuals “groomed and prodded” teenagers into selling drugs and later blackmailed them.
“Nijjar supported and strengthened these individuals so that he could use them when necessary,” he is heard saying.
“That’s why we, my team and I, had to kill Nijjar, because these people were using young people to sell drugs. Everyone has to face the consequences of their actions.”
Brar is wanted in India in connection with the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala. He is believed to be in North America.
Independent podcaster Ruchi Wali was the first to share the clip. She said she believed the recording could be genuine because it contained detailed information.
“The details they are talking about are too intricate to fake, it doesn’t appear staged or scripted,” she said.
Investigation Continues
Four Indian nationals are in custody and face first-degree murder charges in Nijjar’s killing.
The case caused serious tensions between India and Canada. Three months after the murder, then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament that there were “credible allegations” of a possible link between Indian agents and the killing.
India rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
The RCMP said the case “remains the subject of an active and ongoing investigation led by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team”.
The police force also said it would not comment on evidence, intelligence, investigative findings or material shared online. This included “any purported audio recordings, claims contained within such recordings, or speculation regarding motive, responsibility, or potential involvement of any individual”.
US Charges
The killing was mentioned in recent indictments filed by the US Department of Justice against Bishnoi and Brar under “Operation Hard Ball”. The charges did not allege any connection to India.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland declined to comment on the allegations against India, citing the ongoing court proceedings. However, she said, “There is no evidence to suggest through this organised crime investigation and the charges and indictment laid forward, that Indian officials were charged or involved in this.”
She later said “firmly” that “nothing has come out today to link the Indian government”.
The indictment alleged that Bishnoi and Brar directed Nijjar’s killing. Nijjar was the Canadian coordinator for the so-called Khalistan Referendum organised by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has said that the FBI and RCMP warned him about threats to his life. He later released a video attacking Brar and said “justice” awaited him.
