A Canadian court has dismissed the asylum plea of an Indian citizen and his family, ruling that their claims of facing persecution for supporting the Khalistani movement were fabricated.

The case involved a judicial review of a decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada’s Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) in 2024, which found the applicants were neither Convention refugees nor persons in need of protection under Canada’s immigration laws. The latest court decision upheld RAD’s ruling as reasonable and rejected the application.

According to the findings, the applicants failed to provide credible evidence of genuine involvement with the Khalistan movement. The Refugee Protection Division noted inconsistencies in testimony, including the applicant’s lack of knowledge about the movement’s history and militancy.

Reports suggest that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader, has been manipulating individuals to seek fake asylum abroad under the pretense of Khalistani activism. Analysts argue that such tactics are designed to exploit international refugee systems while advancing separatist propaganda.

The demand for Khalistan, largely driven by fringe groups since the 1970s, has minimal support among Sikhs in India. Figures like Jagjit Singh Chauhan, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Simranjit Singh Mann, and more recently Amritpal Singh, have attempted to push this agenda, but their campaigns have repeatedly failed.

India has repeatedly warned Canada, the UK, and other nations about the misuse of asylum processes by Khalistani extremists. The latest ruling exposes how false claims are being used to gain refuge while promoting separatist narratives abroad.