Terrorist-listed Bishnoi gang behind Winnipeg extortion case, court filing alleges

The Manitoba Law Courts building is pictured in Winnipeg, Man., in this undated image. (CTV News Winnipeg)

A Winnipeg man is accused of extorting a local resident on behalf of the Bishnoi gang, an India-based crime network that Canada designated a terrorist entity last year, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

According to the statement of claim filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench, Arshdeep Singh Brar, 36, demanded $150,000 from a Winnipeg resident, stating he had information about the victim’s home address, spouse, children and brother in India, warning that “it’s not hard to find people to do shootings” in Canada.

The filing alleges that on Feb. 14, Brar contacted the victim — identified only as a Winnipeg resident of South Asian descent — from a payphone, identified himself as a member of the Bishnoi gang, and demanded money.

The call lasted 28 seconds, according to a narrative prepared by a Winnipeg Police Service detective and filed as an exhibit. “[The victim] panicked and didn’t know what to say or do after he heard Bishnoi,” the narrative states.

Days later, the victim allegedly received a threatening letter in Hindi directing him to drop off $150,000 later that month in a bag behind stones at a specific spot off the Trans-Canada Highway near Portage la Prairie.

“If any of my boys get caught, that will be your responsibility,” reads a portion of the letter, translated to English and included in the police narrative. The letter states the money had to be dropped off “if you want to be safe,” and warns that any mistakes would cause the amount demanded to double.

Court documents state the victim then went to police, where he was interviewed.

He allegedly received a second call on Feb. 28, after the drop-off date in the letter had passed, telling him he must pay and giving a new date. The victim said he didn’t have the funds.

“The caller told the victim that he would notify his boss… the victim would have to face the consequences, and he doesn’t care how the victim arranges to get the money,” reads an affidavit by a money laundering investigator for the director of criminal property forfeiture.

“Upon receiving the victim’s report regarding the second telephone call, police prepared a package that contained Canadian currency,” the affidavit states.

The package was delivered to the specified drop-off location on March 2 and was then allegedly retrieved by Brar, who returned with the package to his truck.

Police then initiated a traffic stop near Headingley, the filing alleges, where he was arrested.

The statement of claim notes that during Brar’s videotaped interview with police, he admitted to sending the letter demanding the funds “because he was directed to do so by a member of the Bishnoi gang.”

None of the claims have been tested in court, and no statement of defence has been filed.

The claim, filed by the province’s director of criminal property forfeiture, seeks forfeiture of the truck used in the alleged pickup — seized at the time of Brar’s arrest — as well as an interim preservation order. That motion is scheduled to be heard July 29.

Federally designated terrorist group

The Bishnoi gang was designated a terrorist entity under Canada’s Criminal Code in September 2025.

According to the federal government, the gang is a transnational criminal organization operating primarily out of India, with a presence in Canada, active in areas with significant diaspora communities.

It notes the group targets those communities, their prominent community members, businesses, and cultural figures while engaging in murder, shootings and arson, and “generates terror through extortion and intimidation.”

More than 80 terrorist entities are listed under Canada’s Criminal Code.

CTV News reached out to Manitoba RCMP for more information on the Bishnoi gang’s activity in the province. A spokesperson said the force generally does not discuss the activities of specific organized crime groups.

CTV News has also reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service for comment on the Bishnoi gang’s presence in Manitoba.