Former Brampton regional councillor Gurpreet Dhillon has resurfaced in the public eye amid legal manoeuvres involving the City of Brampton — after allegations of sexual misconduct were withdrawn by his accuser and the municipality was left in limbo over a multi-million-dollar demand for damages. According to internal city documents obtained by The Pointer, the case raises serious questions of transparency, municipal risk, and governance.
Background
The saga begins with a trade mission to Turkey in November 2019. A businesswoman who accompanied Dhillon alleged that during the trip, while staying in Ankara, Dhillon forced himself upon her in her hotel room. The incident was said to have been recorded: an audio file surfaced in the investigation in which the complainant allegedly says “no” repeatedly as she resists.
In July 2020, the City of Brampton’s appointed integrity commissioner, Muneeza Sheikh, found that Dhillon had breached multiple sections of the City’s Code of Conduct (including harassment, discreditable conduct, failure to adhere to City priorities, and obstruction). The commissioner recommended the maximum penalty within their jurisdiction: 90 days’ suspension without pay, removal from committees, and other restrictions.
In June 2021, the Ontario Superior Court upheld most of the integrity commissioner’s findings. Dhillon’s application for judicial review was largely dismissed, and he was ordered to pay costs.
Withdrawal of Allegations and Demand for Action
In a dramatic turn, internal city records show that in October 2023 Dhillon’s legal counsel received a letter from the woman who had originally made the allegations, stating that she was formally withdrawing those allegations. A memo to council dated April 2024 from City Solicitor Sameer Akhtar confirmed the City had known of the withdrawal since late 2023.
But what followed was even more significant: In November 2023 a legal demand was sent to the City asking for a public statement acknowledging the withdrawal, the expungement of all internal records related to the case, and an apology to Dhillon. On March 14, 2024, a draft claim surfaced — seeking $5 million in damages from the City. The demand letter and draft claim are contained in city files.
Silence from the City
Despite the withdrawal of the complainant’s allegations and the substantial legal threat, the City of Brampton has not publicly addressed whether the lawsuit has been filed, whether it is negotiating settlement, or how it is managing potential exposure. Memo author Akhtar informed council members that “this is a matter for the integrity commissioner, not the City,” even though it was the City Council that acted on the commissioner’s report in 2020.
Further complicating matters, in August 2022 then-Mayor Patrick Brown publicly claimed that “hush money” had been paid by the City to keep the allegations from being publicly discussed — a claim flatly contradicted by the City Solicitor in an email to all councillors stating no such payment had been made.
What is At Stake
Taxpayer Liability: A lawsuit for $5 million poses a direct financial risk to the municipality, particularly if any settlement or judgment is paid out without full disclosure to taxpayers.
Governance Transparency: The lack of public detail about how the City is responding raises concerns about accountability and oversight in serious misconduct cases involving elected officials.
Reputational Risk: With high-profile players and serious allegations, the case highlights the interplay of politics, governance, and public trust in Brampton’s municipal institutions.
Reactions and Perspectives
Dhillon, who was defeated in the 2022 municipal election, has denied the original allegations and contends the integrity commissioner’s investigation was tainted by political interference. In his statement to The Pointer, he accused Mayor Brown and his staff of orchestrating the broader efforts against him and doing so for political ends.
Former councillor Jeff Bowman expressed concern about the silence: “As a taxpayer in Brampton… it’s alarming that we’re not being transparently updated about Dhillon’s case and his threatened legal action which could cost us millions.”
Looking Ahead
The key questions now include:
- Has the City initiated or defended a formal lawsuit from Dhillon, or is it engaged in settlement talks?
- What budgetary provisions, if any, have been made for potential liability?
- Will the City release details to councillors or the public about the status of investigations and the financial implications?
- Will municipal policy or procedure be reviewed to ensure more rigorous handling of misconduct allegations in the future?
Until those answers are provided, residents and watchdogs say they will continue to press for clarity. As the memo from the City solicitor acknowledged, the matter is active and uncertain — leaving Brampton’s municipal governance in a state of limbo.
The original news report was first published by The Pointer on October 26, 2025.
The Pointer is a Brampton-based independent investigative news outlet known for covering local governance, accountability, and municipal affairs in Peel Region.