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Man pleads guilty in 2024 attack on Indo-Canadian radio host
The guilty plea follows a 2024 assault following the host’s coverage of Khalistani extremism
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 15, Apr 2026
- 16:00 EDT
- 39
(L-R) Rishi Nagar, Dilpreet Singh / X (@RishiKNagar/ @REDFMCALGARY)
A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm in connection with a 2024 attack on an Indo-Canadian radio host in Calgary, with sentencing expected later this year.
Dilpreet Singh entered the guilty plea on April 14 before the Calgary Court of Justice in Alberta in the case involving Red FM news director and radio host Rishi Kumar, who goes by the professional name Rishi Nagar.
Also Read: Absence of arrests in murder of Khalistani critic fuels speculation and outrage
The charge stems from a Sept. 29, 2024, assault in Calgary, where Singh confronted Kumar outside an event venue. Prosecutors said Singh punched Kumar in the face, knocking off his glasses, and continued the assault while shouting in Punjabi about the broadcaster’s on-air comments. Kumar fell to the ground and sustained multiple blows to the head.
The victim suffered blunt trauma to the eye that required cataract surgery and carries the risk of further complications, including retinal detachment or glaucoma, according to the agreed statement of facts read in court by Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston.
The assault came days after Kumar reported on a meeting at the Dashmesh Cultural Centre in Calgary, where members of the South Asian community had gathered to discuss extortion concerns.
The incident included allegations of a firearm being brandished in the parking lot, leading to arrests on weapons-related charges.
While Singh was not involved in the alleged firearm-related incident at the Dashmesh Cultural Centre, court records indicate he was reportedly angered by Kumar’s broadcast about the episode..
Kumar has previously said the assault was linked to his reporting, stating he was targeted after covering developments tied to pro-Khalistan elements.
Justice Peter Barley accepted the plea and ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Singh remains at liberty pending sentencing.
According to court proceedings, Singh’s defense counsel Peter Hoare told the court that the plea could carry “potential immigration consequences,” adding that his client was aware of the ramifications.
Community organizations welcomed the development while highlighting broader concerns around safety and intimidation.
Good to see an investigation bearing fruit and a guilty plea in the October 2024 assault on Calgary radio host @RishiKNagar. https://t.co/IPyQCQvwfx
— CoHNA Canada (@CoHNACanada) April 15, 2026
We hope in the future it does not take 18 months, because that is a long time for Khalistani intimidation to shape how safe… https://t.co/lPqGYfiF7r
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Canada said it was “good to see an investigation bearing fruit” in the case, but added that delays in such cases can affect how safe individuals feel “speaking, reporting, and simply existing in public spaces.”
While the investigation into the murder of Nancy Grewal—a vocal anti-Khalistan critic—continues, there is now a guilty plea in another attack linked to Khalistan extremism in Canada.
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 14, 2026
Radio host Rishi Kumar was nearly blinded in that assault that shook the country—but we are… https://t.co/JNcS6lNms8
The Hindu American Foundation also noted the seriousness of the assault, stating that Kumar was “nearly blinded” in the attack and that the guilty plea offers hope that justice will be served.
It expresses hope for similar development in the investigation into social media influencer and singer Nancy Grewal’s stabbing as well.
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