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Canadian judge overturns decision to release alleged Bishnoi gang member
The Federal Court said the immigration board did not adequately address concerns over the source of bond money, Singh's credibility and the risk he posed to the public.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 06, Aug 2026
- 01:00 EDT
- 8
Representative image / Courtesy Photo
A Canadian Federal Court judge canceled the immigration board's order to release an Indian national accused of murder and with suspected links to the Bishnoi gang.
Judge Phuong Ngo ruled Aug. 3 that the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada member erred in the July 7 decision when they said Karamveer Singh could be released under several conditions after relatives offered to post a bond.
ALSO READ: Punjab gang suspect tried to escape to Canada, claims FBI
Ngo said the "decision's conclusions were not justified or responsive to the critical evidence that was contradictory to the member's findings on the proposed bondsperson's credibility and suitability."
As well, the decision "was also not responsive to the central arguments that the minister raised," Ngo said.
Singh, 40, has been in custody since April. He is alleged to have been involved in the extortion of Punjabi musicians. An FBI report also said he ordered the September 2024 shooting and arson at the Colwood home of music star AP Dhillon.
The FBI also provided Canadian authorities with a photo taken in California of Singh with Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of imprisoned gang founder Lawrence Bishnoi.
Ngo found that the release decision failed to account for many serious concerns about the provenance of more than $100,000 in bonds for his release posted by his two sisters. She also noted that the conditions for Singh's release did not assuage ongoing concerns that he is both a flight risk and a "danger to the Canadian public."
Singh's sister, Harpawanjit Kaur Dhaliwal, and brother-in-law, Gurdeep Singh Dhaliwal, had been accepted by the immigration board member as bondspeople.
"Mr. Dhaliwal was unable to provide satisfactory evidence to the CBSA of the legitimate source of the proposed funds for the cash bond," Ngo said.
Another sister, Navneen Kaur, then offered to post a $10,000 bond, but there were also concerns raised about the source of her cash, given that she was unemployed at the time of the immigration hearing.
"The minister submitted that Ms. Dhaliwal could not credibly demonstrate that she had been truthful with the ID about her work history, income, and source of funds, and this undermined her overall credibility," Ngo said.
Ngo also found the revised release order for Singh last month did not take into account how the changes would "overcome" his flight risk and the danger he posed.
The decision was required to explain and justify how the conditions of the release order adequately eliminate or overcome those risks, the ruling says.
"It did not do so, which also renders the decision unreasonable," it says.
Singh's next detention review hearing was set for Aug. 5, the ruling said.
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