Indian Citizen Abjeet Kingra Disappears During Deportation Hearing

A deportation hearing for Abjeet Kingra, an Indian citizen and alleged member of the Bishnoi extortion gang, was halted on April 9, 2026, after Canadian federal officials reported they had lost track of his location.

The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), the agency overseeing the proceedings, stated minutes into the hearing that it no longer knew where Kingra was being held. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which is seeking to deport Kingra, confirmed it also lacked information regarding his current whereabouts.

Azeem Lalji, the IRB member presiding over the case, shut down the hearing, stating, Without knowing where he is, there’s not much else we can do.

Custody Discrepancies

Despite the statements from the IRB and CBSA, a British Columbia court confirmed to Global News that Kingra remained in custody. He is currently awaiting trial for charges related to arson and a shooting at a residence in Surrey.

The IRB had initially believed Kingra was detained at the Pacific Institution in Abbotsford, British Columbia. However, when jail staff failed to bring the suspect to the virtual hearing, the IRB learned he had been moved to a new location that had not been disclosed to them.

The CBSA stated it would attempt to locate the suspect, and the IRB member indicated that the proceedings would resume in the near future.

Context of the Bishnoi Gang

Kingra is identified as a member of the Bishnoi gang, an India-based organized crime group. The Canadian government has listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group, attributing the organization to a series of murders, shootings, and arsons targeting businesses, cultural figures, and prominent members of the South Asian community.

The group has been linked to a wave of extortion violence across Canadian cities with significant South Asian populations. Kingra is among the first members of the gang to face a deportation hearing as part of a broader crackdown on extortion activities in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Legal Background and Immigration Status

Kingra’s legal history in Canada includes a prior conviction in Victoria, British Columbia. A court sentenced the 26-year-old, who resided in Winnipeg, to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty in August to charges involving firing at the residence of AP Dhillon.

Reports also indicate that Kingra was in Canada illegally, having entered the country on a student visa.

Broader Enforcement Efforts

The attempt to deport Kingra coincides with wider efforts by Canadian authorities to address foreign-led extortion. On April 9, 2026, the CBSA announced that border officials are currently investigating 372 foreign citizens who were identified through a British Columbia-based extortion task force.