India to renew request with Canada for extradition of Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dalla: MEA

New Delhi: India will renew its request for extradition of the de facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, who was recently arrested in Canada.

New Delhi’s requests for extradition of Arshdeep Singh Gill from Canada to India have been pending with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. He is one of the 26 fugitives, whom New Delhi has been repeatedly asking Ottawa to send back from Canada to stand trial in India, despite lack of interests on part of the government in Ottawa.

“In view of the recent arrest, our agencies will be following up on an extradition request. Given Arsh Dalla’s criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi.

Arsh Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and terrorist acts, including terror financing, in India. New Delhi got the Interpol issue a Red Corner Notice against him in May 2022. He was designated as an individual terrorist in India in 2023. The Government of India had requested the Canadian Government in July 2023 for his provisional arrest, but that was declined, Jaiswal said in New Delhi, adding that additional information was provided to the agencies of the North American nation about the case.

Jaiswal said that India had also sent a separate request to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla’s suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable and immovable properties and the details of mobile numbers. New Delhi had shared with Ottawa all information in January 2023. In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year, added the MEA spokesperson.

He referred to the media reports since November 10 on the arrest of Arsh Dalla in Canada. “We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing, “ he said.

"A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla's suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers etc. – all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023. In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year," the statement elaborated.

"In view of the recent arrest, our agencies will be following up on an extradition request. Given Arsh Dalla's criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India," the MEA statement concluded.