Acquitted Sikh businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik was shot dead in British Columbia in 2022, leading to two guilty pleas in connection to his murder.
Malik, previously acquitted of the 1985 Air India bombing that killed 329 people, was shot in Surrey, Canada. Two men, Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his death. This incident renewed focus on tensions between India and Canada, amid allegations of Indian government involvement in various crimes targeting Sikh activists.
The case also sparked speculation about possible Indian connections to Malik’s assassination. Investigators are exploring links between the murder and the Khalistan movement, a Sikh separatist cause with support among Sikh diaspora communities. The 1985 Air India bombing, which remains Canada’s deadliest aviation disaster, was attributed to Sikh separatists seeking revenge for a prior deadly incident involving the Indian Army.
Although Malik’s family welcomed the legal development, they called for further cooperation to unveil the masterminds behind the murder.
As the investigation continues, the shocking murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik sheds light on complex historical and political dynamics involving the Sikh community and the governments of Canada and India.