Toronto: Toronto police have arrested a 32-year-old man and charged him with first-degree murder in the killing of Himanshi Khurana, a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman whose body was found in a Toronto residence last December.
The accused, Abdul Ghafoori, was taken into custody on August 7 at a Toronto airport upon his return to Canada, authorities said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Investigators from the Toronto Police Fugitive Squad and the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit worked with domestic and overseas law enforcement agencies to secure his return.
“Members of the Toronto Police Fugitive Squad and Homicide and Missing Persons Unit liaised with national and international policing partners to facilitate the accused’s return to Canada,” the police said in a statement.
Police did not disclose the country where Ghafoori had been staying since the alleged murder, though a Canada-wide warrant had been issued shortly after the homicide was reported.
Intimate Partner Relationship
The case unfolded after officers responded to a missing-person call on December 19, 2025. The next morning, around 6:30 a.m. “officers located the missing female deceased inside a residence,” a release from Toronto Police at the time stated, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The death was classified as a homicide, and the service’s Homicide Unit took over the investigation. The suspect and the victim “were in an intimate partner relationship,” CP24 reported, citing Toronto Police.
Her identity was confirmed two days later, and police zeroed in on Ghafoori as the prime suspect.
Consulate Extends Condolences
Khurana was later identified as an Indian national by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
In a statement on X, the Consulate said, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of Ms Himanshi Khurana, a young Indian national, in Toronto.”
Extending its “deepest condolences to her bereaved family during this moment of profound grief”, the Consulate added it had “been in close touch with the matter over the past few days, and all possible assistance is being extended to the family in close coordination with local authorities.”
A first-degree murder charge can attract a life sentence without parole if the prosecution can prove premeditation and intent.
Another Killing In Toronto: Navneet Kaur Case
The arrest comes against the backdrop of another high-profile killing in the city last month.
In a separate daylight shooting last month, 26-year-old woman identified as Navneet Kaur, was reportedly shot dead in Toronto. While the Toronto Police and local Canadian reports didn’t confirm her nationality, she is wide reported to be of Indian-origin.
The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Brampton resident Sharnjeet Singh, also believed to be of Indian descent. The two had a brief interaction before the suspect shot Navneet. According to police, the incident took place at around 7:23 a.m. on July 24 at the Humberwood Boulevard and Rexdale Boulevard intersection.
