Ottawa: Canada’s federal government is seeking court approval to keep portions of national security evidence confidential in the prosecution linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a development that adds another layer of complexity to an already sensitive case.
According to a report by Global News, lawyers representing the federal Attorney General have filed an application in Federal Court under Section 38 of the Canada Evidence Act. The provision allows the government to request limits on the disclosure of information it believes could harm national security or international relations.
Court documents cited in the report indicate the Attorney General received multiple notices in 2024 and 2025 identifying material considered potentially damaging if made public during the trial process.
The move comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi that began in September 2023, when then–prime minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s death. India has firmly rejected the accusation, maintaining that Canada has not presented concrete evidence to support its claims.
Nijjar was shot dead on June 18, 2023, outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, where he served in a leadership role.
The investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police led to the arrest in May 2024 of four Indian nationals — Amandeep Singh, Karanpreet Singh, Karan Brar and Kamalpreet Singh — in Alberta and Ontario. They face charges in connection with the killing. The case remains in the pretrial stage and is subject to a publication ban, limiting what prosecutors can publicly disclose.
Canadian media reports have previously suggested that intelligence shared by the United Kingdom played a role in shaping the investigation. Authorities have not detailed the nature of that intelligence in open court.
Legal experts say the Federal Court will now weigh the government’s request to protect classified information against the accused individuals’ right to a fair trial. The outcome could influence how much evidence becomes part of the public record in a case that continues to reverberate diplomatically.
India has consistently denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing and has urged Canada to provide verifiable evidence to substantiate its allegations.
