The RCMP chief says the RCMP has strong evidence that the “highest levels” of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence and intimidation on Canadian soil.

“We have solid evidence — not intelligence, but evidence — that this goes all the way to the highest levels,” he told CBC. Power and politics Friday.

“Some of the evidence I’m referring to will eventually come to light through the legal process.”

Duheme’s interview comes more than a week after he released his statement at a news conference into the RCMP investigation. The RCMP allege Indian government agents were complicit in widespread crimes in Canada, including murder, extortion and intimidation.

Duheme said police evidence shows that Indian diplomats and consular staff collected information and passed it on to the Indian government, after which instructions would be given to criminal organizations to carry out acts of violence.

The commissioner said police had gathered evidence of credible and imminent threats against members of the South Asian community, particularly members of the pro-Khalistan movement.

Last week, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, India’s top envoy to Canada. India denied the accusations and quickly retaliated by expelling Canadian diplomats from its country.

“In my 37 years of career, this is the first time I’ve seen this,” Duheme said Friday, describing the scope of the investigation. “We learned a lot from it.”

WATCH | Is India using diplomats and organized crime in Canada?

Is India using diplomats and organized crime in Canada? | About that

Canada expelled six high-level Indian diplomats after the RCMP said it had evidence that Indian diplomats in Canada were involved in a campaign to intimidate, coerce and sometimes even kill on Canadian soil. Andrew Chang details what we know about Canada’s allegations that the Indian government is linked to organized crime and this latest diplomatic escalation between the two countries.

Duheme said he believes since the RCMP went public with the case, the threat to South Asian communities has diminished.

“I truly believe, based on the information we have, that we have had a significant impact on their operation.” he said.

“I have to emphasize that when you’re dealing with organized crime players, you can deal with them, but they usually band together and come up with different tactics. But our investigators are on the ground monitoring everything that’s going on.”

The gendarmerie tried to alert the Indian police (Duheme)

At last week’s news conference, the RCMP said it had warned 13 Canadians since September 2023 that they could be targets of harassment or threats from Indian agents. Some of these people have received multiple threats.

Duheme said he believes these people “are in a better place” now.

Duheme said the mounted police initially tried to share evidence with Indian police linking crimes committed in Canada to higher levels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, but without success.

Duheme said RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn, who heads the federal police, met in Singapore earlier this month with Indian government officials, as well as Canada’s national security adviser Nathalie Drouin , and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison.

“At this meeting, the Deputy Commissioner presented evidence of how agents of the Indian government, through diplomats and consular officials, collected information on their behalf about Canadians, reported it to the Indian government , and this information was passed on as exploitable information to organized crime groups,” he said.

The Washington Post reported, based on anonymous sources, that the campaign of violence and intimidation in Canada was approved by Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah.

Duheme said he could not comment on the evidence.

India has denied working with criminal organizations to target Sikh separatists in Canada and accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of having a “political agenda” behind the allegations.