CBC Uncovers Bishnoi-Linked Baweja Gang’s Extortion Network Across Canada

Newly disclosed Canadian immigration documents have revealed details of an alleged extortion network linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, including shootings, arson attacks, threats and violent clashes involving rival criminal groups across British Columbia and Alberta.

An investigation by CBC News identified the group, known as the Baweja group, as an alleged Bishnoi-linked cell operating in several Canadian cities. The documents, obtained through federal Access to Information requests, provide details of its suspected activities and connections to other criminal networks.

Rival Gang Attack Exposes Alleged Network

One incident detailed in the documents occurred in October 2025, when a van carrying masked attackers pulled into a Calgary college parking lot and targeted a group of young men sitting inside a white Mustang.

The attackers reportedly used pepper spray and carried weapons, including a baseball bat and a sword. They also recorded the confrontation and sent the footage to the parents of one of the victims, Kawanmeet Singh, as a warning about his alleged activities.

Police described the incident as an apparent planned and retaliatory attack by members of another gang against the Baweja group. The documents indicate that the source of the dispute remains unclear, although previous records have documented clashes between rival factions linked to the Bishnoi organisation.

Multiple Shootings and Extortion Cases

According to the Immigration and Refugee Board documents, the Baweja group has been linked to several shootings and extortion-related incidents in Calgary, Surrey and other locations.

Investigators reportedly connected the group's members and vehicles to a series of attacks, including shootings at a Calgary restaurant and a tyre shop. In one case, the owner of the tyre business said he received repeated calls demanding 700,000 dollars, alongside threats of further violence.

Forensic evidence reportedly linked a firearm recovered during investigations to multiple extortion shootings, including attacks on Kap's Cafe in Surrey, a business owned by Indian comedian Kapil Sharma that has repeatedly been targeted.

The documents also connect alleged members of the group to an assault in a Tim Hortons parking lot in Calgary, where a victim said he had received extortion threats before being attacked by several individuals.

Members Found Inadmissible to Canada

Three alleged members of the Baweja group — Kawanmeet Singh, Ekamjot Singh and Sukhdeep Singh — were found inadmissible to Canada on grounds of organised criminality following separate immigration hearings this summer in Vancouver and Toronto.

A fourth alleged member, Rohit Nain, is scheduled to face a hearing in January.

A lawyer representing Canada's Ministry of Public Safety told one of the hearings that the individuals appeared repeatedly in independent investigations by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Calgary Police Service, Surrey Police Service and the Canada Border Services Agency.

The lawyer also cited shared vehicles, residences and frequent travel across the country as evidence connecting the suspects.

Gang's Operations and Recruitment

A confidential informant cited in the documents told authorities that the gang's operations involved assigning attacks electronically, providing firearms through vehicles and requiring perpetrators to submit video evidence before receiving payment.

The informant also said the organisation tightly controlled the use of the Bishnoi name, with serious consequences for individuals who claimed an association without permission.

According to police assessments cited in the hearings, alleged members were mostly young Indian nationals who frequently arrived in Canada on study permits. Some reportedly developed associations through friendships formed in India or while studying in Canada.

The documents further suggest that members moved between Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, with alleged links to other extortion investigations, including cases involving planned kidnapping.

Suspects Deny Involvement

Despite the allegations, Kawanmeet Singh, Ekamjot Singh and Sukhdeep Singh denied involvement with the Bishnoi gang during their immigration proceedings.

Ekamjot Singh said he became associated with the individuals because of his financial circumstances and friendships formed while studying, but denied taking part in the group's alleged criminal activities.

Kawanmeet Singh also denied the existence of a Baweja group and told the tribunal that he wanted to return to his parents in India.

The disclosures come amid continuing investigations and immigration proceedings involving alleged Bishnoi-linked extortion networks in Canada, even as reported extortion threats have declined in some communities in recent months.

CBC News