Canadian border officer sues Indian govt, seeks $9 million in damages

The suit alleges that Indian officials recklessly portrayed Sidhu, a 20-year CBSA employee with no involvement in overseas politics, as a fugitive terrorist to sow discord. According to the statement of claim, prepared by Toronto lawyer Jeffrey Kroeker, Sidhu was singled out because of his common Sikh surname and his uniformed, public-facing role in national security. “Sunny became merely an instrument of India’s propaganda machine to falsely accuse Canada of employing and supporting a Khalistani extremist,” the document states.

It claims that Sidhu’s ordeal began last October when Indian news outlets broadcast explosive claims that Sidhu was a “dreaded terrorist” on the Canadian government’s payroll, including as a CBSA superintendent. Anchors and reports described him as a fugitive wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism links, including the promotion of banned groups and involvement in violent acts. Social media amplified the narrative, with viral posts demanding his extradition and even his killing, leading to doxxing of his personal details and a barrage of death threats.

Sidhu, born and raised in British Columbia, says he not a practising Sikh, and had previously kept a low profile, with his only public exposure coming from brief appearances on the reality TV series Border Security: Canada’s Front Line. The sudden scrutiny forced him into hiding, triggering severe emotional distress. The lawsuit details how the “tidal wave of aggressive misinformation” drove him to alcohol dependency, culminating in a voluntary admission to a rehabilitation program at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital.

Compounding the harm, Sidhu alleges, was the CBSA’s inadequate response. Rather than providing protection, the agency dismissed the threats as a “non-work-related matter” and subjected him to intrusive background checks, including demands to waive privacy rights. He was temporarily suspended during the probe, which ultimately cleared him of any wrongdoing and led to his reinstatement as superintendent. “The CBSA did nothing to help him and instead mocked the death threats against him,” Kroeker’s claim asserts, accusing the agency of breaching its duty of care.

In a statement to CBC News last November, the CBSA confirmed Sidhu’s ongoing employment and stated: “We have no evidence to support the allegations made against him.”

The case, which also names the CBSA as a co-defendant for alleged negligence, seeks damages for reputational harm, lost wages, and psychological injury.

An initial court hearing is set for early 2026.