Former Brampton city councillor Gurpreet Singh Dhillon says he intends to run again in the October 2026 municipal election, following the withdrawal of sexual assault allegations that had derailed his political career.
Dhillon, who previously represented Wards 9 and 10, confirmed his plans publicly while also calling on the city to remove an integrity commissioner’s report that had supported the allegations. He maintains the accusations were false from the beginning and now claims they have been formally withdrawn, alleging the complaint was made under pressure.
The controversy stems from a 2019 incident during a City of Brampton trade mission to Turkey, where Dhillon was accused of sexual misconduct involving a staff member. The findings of the city’s integrity commissioner, Muneeza Sheikh, cited repeated refusals by the complainant during the alleged incident. Dhillon has consistently denied wrongdoing.
The fallout from the allegations significantly impacted his political standing. He lost his seat in the 2024 municipal election to Gurpartap Singh Toor, becoming the only incumbent councillor not re-elected at the time.
Dhillon now argues that the continued public availability of the integrity commissioner’s report is unfair and politically motivated, saying it has damaged his reputation despite the withdrawal of the complaint. As of now, the City of Brampton has not commented on whether the report will be removed, and no response has been issued regarding policies on such cases.
The matter also involved law enforcement, with Peel Regional Police referring the case to Turkish authorities due to jurisdictional limits. No criminal charges were laid.
The case had also triggered broader political and policy repercussions. In 2022, city council passed measures restricting the use of taxpayer funds to settle legal matters involving allegations of sexual misconduct, following claims that Dhillon had used public funds in a related settlement — allegations he denied and described as politically driven.
Despite the controversy and past protests tied to the case, Dhillon is positioning himself for a political comeback, expressing hope that voters will once again place their trust in him when Brampton heads to the polls on October 26, 2026.