Updated

NRI Ripudiman Malik sues Canadian local and federal governments

Vancouver, March 27, 2007
Sohan Singh Sahota

On March 13, Ripudaman Singh Malik filed documents in B.C. Supreme Court, sue the B.C. and federal governments for malicious prosecution, wrongful imprisonment, breach of the plaintiff's Charter rights, conspiracy to injure, negligent performance of duty and damage to the plaintiff's reputation.

On March 16, 2005, Ripudiman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri have both been found not guilty of all eight criminal charges connected to a pair of deadly blasts directed at Air India airliners in 1985.

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Despite being innocent, I was wrongly accused of being responsible for the Air India bombing.

I was wrongfully incarcerated from October 2000 to March 2005, a period of 4½ years, for a crime I did not commit. This is the equivalent of a 9 year prison sentence.

I was also forced to spend over one million dollars on my legal defence. The Attorney General of BC has said that I owe even more money to the government despite my innocence.

The charges against me were based on evidence that was fabricated. The loss of 4½ years of my life had a great impact on my family and I, both emotionally and financially. Prior to my arrest I was a leader in the community. Today, even though the Court found the evidence against me was fabricated (see paragraphs 739-744 & 777 of Mr. Justice Josephson’s ruling), my reputation has not been restored.

While I was wrongfully incarcerated, I missed both my youngest son’s and my daughter’s high school graduations, I missed my eldest son’s marriage, I missed the birth of my first grandchild, and I celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary without my family. I missed the joy and pleasure of seeing my children grow up and of participating in their upbringing. I missed spending time with my wife, my family and my friends.

I believe that I should be compensated for my wrongful prosecution and wrongful imprisonment and my financial losses.

I am providing this written statement today. I will not be providing any further interviews.

Thank you,

Ripudaman Singh Malik
Vancouver, BC

• Ripudiman Singh Malik and his co-accused, Ajaib Singh Bagri, were arrested in October 2000, 15 years after Air India Flight 182 went down off the coast of Ireland, killing 329. The pair were denied bail and remained in jail until March 2005 when Justice Ian Bruce Josephson acquitted them both.
• Malik was the President of a 16,000-member Vancouver based Khalsa Credit Union (KCU) that reportedly has assets worth $110 million.