Ottawa, Canada: The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has voiced strong concerns over the appointment of Parag Jain as the new head of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country’s foreign intelligence agency. Jain, a 1989-batch Punjab-cadre Indian Police Service officer, served in Canada from approximately 2016 to 2018 and was accused of conducting espionage operations targeting Sikh Canadians during his tenure. The WSO warns that this appointment signals India’s continued disregard for Canada’s concerns about foreign interference and transnational repression.

According to the WSO, Parag Jain’s history includes serious allegations of human rights abuses. As Superintendent of Police in Patiala in 1993, Jain was implicated in the abduction and extrajudicial killing of 19-year-old Sukhdev Singh, an incident documented in Ensaaf’s Crimes Against Humanity database, which details torture and a secret cremation. “Jain has never been held accountable,” the WSO stated in its press release.

Despite these allegations, Parag Jain was sent to Canada in 2015 as a “Counsellor (Community Affairs)” at India’s High Commission in Ottawa. Investigations by The Bureau revealed that Parag Jain, alongside another official, Amar Jit Singh, coordinated covert networks aimed at infiltrating Sikh gurdwaras, surveilling community members, and influencing Canadian electoral ridings. “Jain was running an undeclared intelligence operation targeting Sikh Canadians,” the WSO noted, highlighting the discrepancy between his official diplomatic role and his alleged activities.

The WSO pointed out that Parag Jain’s appointment follows a pattern, referencing the 2023 expulsion of Pavan Kumar Rai, RAW’s station chief in Canada, after credible intelligence linked Indian agents to the killing of Sikh activist Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

WSO President Danish Singh condemned Parag Jain’s promotion, stating, “The appointment of Parag Jain, whose espionage activities targeted Sikhs in Canada until the end of his diplomatic posting in Ottawa in 2018, signals that India is doubling down on its campaign of transnational repression. This is not the behavior of a government interested in restoring diplomatic ties.”

Danish Singh further emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “Canada must also clarify how and why Indian police officers accused of extrajudicial murders can be appointed to Canada and what steps will be taken to ensure individuals with such backgrounds are never allowed to operate here again.” He added that “Prime Minister Carney cannot pretend that restoring relations with India is possible while Indian officials responsible for espionage and repression here are being elevated to the top of India’s intelligence services.”

The WSO, alongside partnering Sikh organizations, has called for immediate action, including a public inquiry into India’s alleged foreign interference in Canada, the cancellation of all intelligence-sharing agreements between Canada and India, and a demand for India to fully cooperate with Canadian authorities and cease targeting Sikh Canadians before any restoration of diplomatic ties.

Jain’s appointment, effective July 1, 2025, comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and India, particularly following incidents like the Nijjar killing, which strained bilateral relations.

The WSO’s press release (reproduced below) underscores growing concerns within the Sikh Canadian community about India’s intelligence operations and their implications for Canada’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE WORLD SIKH ORGANIZATION OF CANADA:

Full text of press release issued by the WSO Canada reads, in verbatim, as follows-

Indian Diplomat Accused of Targeting Sikhs in Canada Now Heads India’s RAW: WSO

Ottawa (June 30, 2025) – The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is deeply disturbed by the Government of India’s appointment of Parag Jain as the new head of India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). Jain was posted to Canada from approximately 2016 to 2018 and was accused of activities targeting Sikhs in Canada. Jain’s appointment underscores India’s ongoing disregard for Canada’s concerns and its refusal to curb foreign interference or transnational repression.

Parag Jain is a 1989-batch Punjab-cadre Indian Police Service officer who has been implicated in serious human rights abuses in India and espionage operations in Canada. As Superintendent of Police in Patiala in 1993, Jain was named in the abduction and extrajudicial killing of 19-year-old Sukhdev Singh. The incident, involving torture and a secret cremation, is documented in Ensaaf’s Crimes Against Humanity database. Jain has never been held accountable.

Despite this troubling record, Jain was sent on secondment to Canada in 2015 as a “Counsellor (Community Affairs)” at India’s High Commission in Ottawa. While his official title related to community and consular affairs, investigations have revealed that Jain was running an undeclared intelligence operation targeting Sikh Canadians. According to reporting by The Bureau, Jain and Amar Jit Singh, coordinated networks that sought to infiltrate Sikh gurdwaras and organizations, surveil community members, and influence Canadian electoral ridings.

Jain’s promotion is not an isolated case. In 2023, Canada expelled Pavan Kumar Rai, RAW’s station chief in Canada, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly confirmed credible intelligence linking Indian agents to the killing of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Rai was also an Indian Police officer on secondment to RAW.

WSO President Danish Singh said today,

“The appointment of Parag Jain, whose espionage activities targeted Sikhs in Canada until the end of his diplomatic posting in Ottawa in 2018, signals that India is doubling down on its campaign of transnational repression. This is not the behavior of a government interested in restoring diplomatic ties. It is a clear message that India remains committed to targeting Sikhs and will promote and protect those who carry out its foreign interference agenda.

Canada must also clarify how and why Indian police officers accused of extrajudicial murders can be appointed to Canada and what steps will be taken to ensure individuals with such backgrounds are never allowed to operate here again.

Prime Minister Carney cannot pretend that restoring relations with India is possible while Indian officials responsible for espionage and repression here are being elevated to the top of India’s intelligence services. There must be accountability.”

WSO and other partnering Sikh organizations have already called for for:

• • A public inquiry into India’s foreign interference and transnational repression in Canada;
  • The immediate cancellation of all intelligence-sharing agreements between Canada and India;
  • Ensuring India fully cooperates with Canadian authorities and ends its campaign against Sikh Canadians before restoration of diplomatic ties.    

The World Sikh Organization of Canada is a non-profit national organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights of all individuals.

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