In New Westminster, British Columbia, two individuals have admitted guilt to second-degree murder in connection with the death of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a former suspect in the Air India bombings.
On Monday, the court confirmed that Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez made the plea regarding the fatal shooting of Malik, who was exonerated in 2005 after being accused of involvement in the 1985 bombings that resulted in the deaths of 331 people.
Initially charged with first-degree murder, the two men are scheduled for their next court appearance on October 31 for sentencing.
Malik’s family expressed their gratitude for the legal actions taken against Fox and Lopez but urged them to assist law enforcement in identifying those who may have orchestrated the murder.
At the age of 75, Malik was shot while inside his vehicle near his business in Surrey, British Columbia, on July 14, 2022. He had previously supported the Khalistan movement, which advocates for a separate Sikh homeland in India.
In 1985, Malik and another co-defendant were found not guilty of murder and conspiracy related to the infamous Air India bombings. One of these bombings led to a devastating crash in the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all 329 passengers and crew members onboard. This incident remains the most heinous act of mass violence in Canadian history.
Shortly after the devastating crash, another bomb that was meant for a different Air India flight detonated prematurely at an airport in Japan, claiming the lives of two baggage handlers.
The only individual convicted in this case, Inderjit Singh Reyat, provided testimony against Malik and his co-defendant during their trial but later faced a perjury charge.
Law enforcement indicated that Fox and Lopez had been waiting in a vehicle for several hours prior to Malik’s shooting.
Malik’s son, Jaspreet Singh Malik, expressed confusion regarding the identities of Fox and Lopez and questioned the motive behind his father’s murder.
In their recent statement, the Malik family labeled the act as an assassination but refrained from naming any alleged parties involved. They stated, “Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez were hired to commit this murder.” They emphasized the necessity for the identification and prosecution of those responsible for orchestrating the crime, asserting, “This work remains incomplete until these parties are brought to justice.”
Additionally, the family encouraged Fox and Lopez to cooperate with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as part of fulfilling their responsibility for the crime.
This month, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme disclosed the establishment of a special investigative unit aimed at tackling multiple allegations of extortion, violence, and other serious crimes, some of which relate to possible involvement by agents of the Indian government.
Duheme underscored public safety concerns, noting that Canada had expelled six Indian diplomats identified by police as persons of interest in the ongoing investigations, although specifics regarding which murders may be connected were not disclosed.
Previously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Parliament of credible intelligence indicating a link between the Indian government and the killing of temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot in a gurdwara parking lot in Surrey. Four individuals face charges in that case.
Authorities allege that the diplomats had utilized their positions to compile information on Canadians associated with the Khalistan movement and subsequently relayed this information to criminal gangs tasked with direct targeting. These claims have been denied by the Indian government.
Court records reveal that both Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez have existing criminal backgrounds.