Ripudaman Singh Malik, charged with first degree murder and later acquitted by the British Columbia Supreme Court Judge Ian Bruce Jospeson in connection with the Air India bombing, is now suing the Attorney-General of British Columbia, Wally Oppal, also an Indo-Canadian.
Reports say Malik has filed a writ against Oppal arguing that as he was wrongly charged he lost his reputation and his savings.
He's reportedly claiming unspecified amount as damages '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 in connection with the Plaintiff's wrongful prosecution.'
Malik and Ajaib Singth Bagri were arrested in October 2000 for the death of 329 people who were on board Air India flight 182 that disintegrated over the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985.
They were both acquitted of all charges: 'Justice is not achieved if persons are convicted on anything less than the requisite standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,' Justice Josephson said in his judgment acquitting both.
In the meantime, members of Air India victims' families are getting dejected as the public inquiry, headed by former Supreme Court Judge, John Major, seems to be going nowhere as the Justice Department and law enforcement agencies are taking time to release all documents concerning the incident and its investigation to the Commission.
The hearings have already been adjourned three times. A media release from the Commission's office in Ottawa now says the hearings would resume on April 30.
'Commission counsel Mark Freiman has briefed Commissioner John C. Major on progress to date in the production of the documents required for the public hearing based on meetings and discussions he has held with counsel for the Government of Canada,' says Commission spokesman, Michael Tansey.
'Mr Freiman is confident that the necessary evidence will be available to begin stage two of the Inquiry.
'When the public hearings resume on April 30, the Commission will hear evidence related to the period prior to the June 23, 1985 bombing.'
The list of witnesses will be released by the Commission a week prior to the resumption of public hearings, said Tansey.
