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The RCMP has accused Indian diplomats and consulate officials based in Canada of engaging in covert activities linked to serious criminal activity in the country, including murder and extortion.

This surprising accusation emerged when Canada announced expelled six Indian diplomats linked to “a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents associated with the Government of India.”

In what appears to be a retaliatory measure, India made the announcement. expels six Canadian diplomatsincluding the two most senior diplomats stationed in New Delhi.

Monday’s events mark the latest confrontation between India and Canada that began publicly last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was investigating credible allegations that Indian government agents were involved in the murder of a prominent Sikh activist.

In an unexpected and unusual press conference on Monday, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme outlined the alleged activities of Indian diplomats in Canada.

“Investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada took advantage of their official positions to engage in covert activities, such as gathering information for the Indian government, either directly or through of their agents; and other individuals who acted voluntarily or under duress, Duheme told reporters.

“The evidence also shows that a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad were used by Indian government agents to gather information. Some of these people and companies have been forced and threatened to work for the Indian government. “Information collected for the Indian government was then used to target members of the South Asian community,” Duheme said.

The evidence collected by the RCMP was presented directly to Indian government officials by RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn, Canadian National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin and Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison over the weekend.

Two Canadian officials with knowledge of the rapidly developing situation said Canada had asked India to lift the diplomatic immunity of officials involved in Canada so that charges could be brought.

Officials say India said no. Canada then submitted a diplomatic note stating that the Indian officials would be expelled.

In response, India announced the recall of High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and other “targeted diplomats and officials.”

A senior Canadian official told CTV News that the Indian high commissioner had been informed that he was a person of interest in the June 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

CTV News is not naming the Canadian officials because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

“We received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday stating that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in matters related to the investigations in that country,” read a statement released Monday by the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The Government of India categorically rejects these absurd allegations and considers them to be the political agenda of the Trudeau government centered on vote bank politics,” the statement read.

A photo of the temple’s late president, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is seen on a banner outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia, September 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The Indian government says Canada has failed to provide “a shred of evidence” and accuses the Trudeau government of pursuing a “deliberate strategy of demonizing India for political purposes.”

On Monday evening, India announced that it had decided to expel six Canadian diplomats, including Acting Canadian High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Herbert.

The six diplomats have been asked to leave India by Sunday, October 20.

News of the expulsion comes after New Delhi announced it had summoned Wheeler, Canada’s top diplomat to India, to protest the allegations.

The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has long accused Canada of allowing pro-Khalistan “terrorists” to operate in Canada. The Khalistan movement seeks to create a homeland for Sikhs in the Punjab region.

Senior Canadian officials said that in conversations with India in recent weeks, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, a prominent Canadian Sikh politician, had been mentioned several times, and India responded to the accusations Canada by claiming that the Trudeau government was biased due to the arrangements of the previous government. with Singh under a supply agreement and trust.

Trudeau is scheduled to hold a press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc this afternoon.

Updates to follow.

With files from CTV News’ Vassy Kapelos and Colton Praill