New Delhi: Five Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in Canada for alleged extortion-related crimes after violence targeting two sites of an auto dealership in British Columbia last year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has said.
Extortion demands made to the owners of the auto-dealership were accompanied by two targeted attacks on the business last year involving arson and shootings, at Surrey and Langley, the RCMP added. The case came amid growing unease in the local South Asian community over extortion demands from criminals with links to Indian gangsters.
It was investigated by a task force led by the RCMP under an operation titled ‘Project E_PURSUANCE’. On October 1, 2026, the British Columbia Prosecution Service laid charges against five individuals in connection with the case. These include Sanket Singla, 23-year-old who has been charged with extortion, recklessly discharging firearms, causing damage by fire, and throwing explosive substances.
Fellow accused Sahil, 24, is a resident of Surrey, and has been charged with similar sections, as well as those pertaining to the unauthorised transfer of a prohibited firearm, and transfer and trafficking of cocaine.
The others are Surrey residents Simranjeet Singh, 24, and Harsh, 21, and Ottawa-based Jagdeep Singh, 24. All of them face charges related to extortion and discharge of firearms, the police have said.
In a press release, the RCMP detailed how they facilitated Singla’s return to Canada from India for his arrest.
“Mr Singla was in India. Through ongoing efforts, investigators identified his alleged role in this matter and determined that it was in the public interest to have him appear before the courts in Canada. Working in close coordination with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and our international RCMP Liaison Officers, investigators facilitated a controlled operation that allowed Mr Singla to enter Canada for the purpose of effecting his arrest,” they said.
“On October 1, 2026, Singla was arrested upon arrival in Toronto, where he remains in custody. The other four accused were arrested in Surrey and remain in custody,” it added.
The investigation has resulted in the seizure of numerous dangerous items, including four firearms, assorted ammunition and magazines, and illicit substances suspected to be fentanyl, cocaine and opium, RCMP said.
Extortion, arson, and an auto dealership
The RCMP statement said the investigation began in June 2025 following an “extortion report from the co-owners of an auto dealership, who were victims of significant extortion demands.”
The demands, they added, were followed by two targeted attacks on the business involving arson and shootings, at their Surrey and Langley locations. “This underscores the serious nature of the threats and the violence associated with this criminal activity,” RCMP said.
Through a dedicated project team and extensive operations across Canada and internationally, investigators identified a group allegedly involved in extortions, trafficking prohibited firearms, and trafficking controlled substances, they said.
Additionally, they added, “evidence was obtained pertaining to the possible involvement of other suspects in extortions and acts of violence committed in communities across British Columbia and Alberta”.
“Investigators continue to work with partner agencies to support those investigations. As those investigations progress, charges may be pursued by the police of jurisdiction,” they said.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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