Ontario Provincial Police have withdrawn firearms charges against two of the three Sikh activists arrested in September in a high-profile case tied indirectly to ongoing tensions involving Khalistani activism in Canada.
Jagdeep Singh of New York and Arman Singh were informed this week that all charges against them—ranging from careless use to illegal possession of a prohibited handgun—have been dropped. Both men were arrested on Sept. 19 in Whitby alongside Inderjit Singh Gosal of Brampton.
Gosal, a prominent Khalistani activist and the current Canadian leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), still faces outstanding charges.
Charges Withdrawn Amid Heightened Safety Concerns
Jagdeep Singh told CBC News he was contacted by his lawyer Thursday with confirmation that the investigation against him had been discontinued.
“The email said you can go back to the States, you’re good to go,” he said. “I can go anywhere in Canada, or I can go back home.”
Gosal declined to discuss the specifics of his case but emphasized that the charges should be seen alongside the repeated warnings he received from police regarding threats to his life.
Gosal Claims He Was Targeted
Since early 2024, Gosal has faced numerous security risks:
- In February 2024, unknown shooters fired into a home linked to him in Brampton.
- Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 10, RCMP officers warned him multiple times that contract killers were “in town,” he said.
- He was reportedly offered entry into a witness protection program, which he refused.
“I’d rather take India’s bullet than stop campaigning for the Khalistan referendum,” Gosal said.
Referendum Campaign Continues This Weekend
Sikhs for Justice is set to hold its next Khalistan referendum vote in Ottawa on Sunday. Previous voting drives in Surrey and the GTA have attracted tens of thousands of participants, with similar referendums held internationally across the U.S., U.K., Europe and Australia.
India has condemned the referendum campaign, calling it a threat to its sovereignty. Ottawa, meanwhile, continues to investigate India’s alleged role in the June 2023 killing of SFJ leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C.—an allegation New Delhi denies.
Four men with alleged ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang have been charged in Nijjar’s murder.
Gosal Still Facing Charges, but Plans to Attend Ottawa Vote
Despite his pending firearms charges, Gosal is out on bail and expected to attend the Ottawa referendum event, along with Jagdeep Singh, who says he has not received any security warnings from Canadian authorities but was earlier cautioned by the FBI.
Arman Singh’s legal situation is now fully resolved, while Gosal will continue his fight in court.