London: The Sikh Federation (UK) has renewed its call for transparency from the UK government following what it describes as new evidence relating to alleged transnational repression by Indian authorities targeting Sikh activists abroad, including in the United Kingdom.
In a press release issued on 26 January, the organisation referred to claims discussed in a recently published book, The Delhi Directive: Once You’re Marked, There’s No Escape by author and national security analyst Aanirydhya Mitra. The book is presented by its author as a work of fiction and carries the line on its title page that “the only way to tell the truth is through fiction.”
The Sikh Federation UK also referenced television interviews given by the author, in which he was asked about the death of UK-based Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in a Birmingham hospital on 15 June 2023. According to the press release, the author said that discussion within Indian official circles about the case was “hush, hush”, with claims circulating that Avtar Singh Khanda may have been poisoned.
The press release further cited a Bloomberg report published in November 2025, which stated that the UK’s intelligence agency, GCHQ, had gathered intelligence concerning alleged plots by Indian government agents to assassinate Sikh activists in Canada, the United States and the UK. Bloomberg reported that this intelligence was discreetly shared with a limited group of Canadian officials in July 2023, shortly after the killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the death of Avtar Singh Khanda.
Commenting on these developments, Dabinderjit Singh OBE, Lead Executive of the Sikh Federation (UK), said: “We wrote to Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister on India’s transnational repression targeting Sikh activists in the UK following the Bloomberg revelation.”
He added that the Federation understood Indian authorities were “shocked and angry” by the UK’s intelligence-sharing actions in 2023, while also noting that India did not publicly respond when an Indian intelligence officer, Sarvesh Raj, was expelled from the UK around the same time.
According to the Sikh Federation (UK), information from alleged Indian intelligence sources suggests that agents of the Indian government, “possibly assisted by Russian operatives”, were involved in poisoning Avtar Singh Khanda. The organisation said this “will increase pressure that there should be an inquest and public inquiry into his death”.
In correspondence with the Federation, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “I would like to make clear that the Government takes this matter very seriously. I can assure you that the safety and security of British Sikhs is of the utmost importance, and we will not tolerate any attempts by any foreign government to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics in the UK.”
On intelligence-sharing and ongoing investigations, Mr Jarvis said it would “not be appropriate” to comment, adding that the government expects India to “fully cooperate with both the US and Canadian investigations”.
Separately, barrister Michael Polak of Church Court Chambers, acting for Mr Khanda’s family, wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood requesting that an inquiry be opened into the circumstances of the 35-year-old’s death. Mr Polak referred to what he described as new evidence involving an Indian intelligence officer based in Birmingham who allegedly contacted Mr Khanda and made threats.
The Sikh Federation (UK) also raised concerns about the handling of the case by West Midlands Police, stating that officers did not take statements from friends or family, speak to employers, retrace Mr Khanda’s movements prior to his illness, or issue a case reference number. While the force previously said the matter had been “thoroughly” investigated, a later statement in December 2023 said the case had been referred by the coroner and that police were “satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances”.
The organisation maintains that there were “suspicious circumstances” both before and after Avtar Singh Khanda’s death, including reported threats, which it says warranted a more detailed investigation.
More than eight weeks ago, the Sikh Federation (UK) submitted a formal complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding the police response. Dabinderjit Singh said: “When we submitted the complaint the IOPC indicated the West Midlands Police should provide an initial response in around three weeks.”
He added that no response has yet been received and that West Midlands Police have now been informed of the latest information cited in the public domain.
⊕ A copy of Press Release issued by the Sikh Federation UK (PDF)
