Hardeep Nijjar's murder: All 4 Indians accused granted bail

The Supreme Court Of Canada on Thursday granted bail to the four Indians accused in the murder case of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The case will now be heard in the Canadian court on February 11. 

According to the details, the release order was issued due to lack of evidence, after the proceedings were stayed in a lower court. The four accused-- Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh - were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Hardeep Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan leader, was assassinated in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia. The case gained global attention after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder. India has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless".

The four Indian nationals were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in May 2024 from different parts of Canada. However, delays in presenting evidence by the prosecution during preliminary hearings drew criticism.

Court documents reveal that all four men were released under "stay of proceedings" while awaiting trial. They appeared before the Supreme Court during a hearing on November 18, 2024.

As per court records, the status of all the four defendants was marked as 'N', indicating that they are "not" in custody. This means the individuals are not currently detained and may be out on bail or released under specific conditions while awaiting further court proceedings.

The release of the accused is being seen as a potential setback for the Canadian government, particularly after its initial hardline stance against India. Critics said that the delays and lack of substantial evidence in the case have undermined Canada's position on the matter. The case has strained India-Canada diplomatic ties, already frosty over the contentious issue of Khalistani extremism. Nijjar's killing has polarised the Sikh diaspora in Canada, with some supporting his pro-Khalistan ideology and others opposing it.