A veteran superintendent with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Sandeep Singh Sidhu, has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in Ontario Superior Court, seeking $9 million in damages for personal injury. Sidhu alleges that a malicious, state-linked disinformation campaign orchestrated by New Delhi falsely vilified him as a terrorist, turning his life upside down and transforming him into a virtual fugitive.
According to the lawsuit, the ordeal began in October 2024 when Indian news outlets broadcasted false claims that Sidhu was a "dreaded terrorist" on the Canadian government payroll. These reports alleged he was a fugitive wanted by Indian authorities for purported terrorism links, including promoting banned groups and involvement in violent acts. Viral posts amplified the outrage, demanding his extradition and calling for punitive action. Sidhu, a lifelong resident of British Columbia, found himself at the center of a storm, with his personal details doxxed and death threats becoming a grim reality.
Sidhu's legal team asserts that he was targeted because of his Sikh name and visible role in Canadian security. They argue that India sought to punish Canada for accusing it of violence on Canadian soil, including the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., and that Sidhu was made the "patsy" in this effort. The lawsuit claims that Sidhu has no connections to Indian politics and last visited India in 2018 for a wedding.
The lawsuit also names the CBSA as a co-defendant, alleging negligence in their response to the threats against Sidhu. It contends that the CBSA dismissed the threats as a "non-work-related matter" and subjected him to intrusive background checks, including requests to waive privacy rights. Furthermore, Sidhu's lawyers claim that his requests to transfer to a more secure port in Vancouver were ignored. Instead, the agency allegedly circulated one of the Indian news reports to all employees in an internal email. Colleagues allegedly made jokes about Sidhu making bombs and inquired about his connections to Hamas, adding to the immense psychological toll.
Sidhu's lawyer, Kroeker, stated that the lawsuit is the "only remaining path to accountability and systemic change" and that a successful outcome could set a precedent requiring governments to respond decisively when officials are endangered by "identity-based or politically motivated disinformation". While the lawsuit seeks $9 million in damages, Kroeker emphasized that Sidhu's life will never be the same, as the threats have taken away his sense of safety. An initial hearing is scheduled for early 2026. Indian officials have repeatedly denied involvement in any disinformation campaigns targeting Canadians.
