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The Federal Court of Canada has reportedly rejected a plea by an alleged Sikh terrorist to allow him to stay in the country till the decision taken last month by the office of the Canadian Immigration Minister Monte Solberg that he constitutes a danger to the security of Canada, is reviewed by the Court.
Federal Court Judge Justice Pierre Blais, refused Bachan Singh Sogi's plea to put on hold Department's removal order as he would be treated inhumanely if returned to India.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service reportedly believes that there are reasons to believe Sogi, 45, is actually Gurnam Singh alias Piare Singh, a member of the terrorist group Babbar Khalsa.
Babbar Khalsa's leader Talwinder Singh Parmar was the alleged mastermind of the Air-India flight 182 bombing in June 1985.
In a report in the Toronto Star, CSIS is quoted as saying that Sogi arrived in Toronto in May 2001, and claimed refugee status under the name of Bachan Singh Sogi. 'This man is highly trained in the use of sophisticated weapons and explosive devices,' it said.
The Canadian intelligence agency also alleges that Sogi intended to assassinate former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, and former chief of Punjab Police K P S Gill.
Sogi reportedly denies these allegations.
Initially, the Immigration Refugee Board concluded, based on confidential information, that Sogi should be removed from Canada. However, a 2003 assessment by the Immigration Department disagreed with those conclusions and arguing that Sogi would be at risk of torture if returned to India.
But a representative of the immigration minister, who reviewed the file, last month reportedly concluded that Sogi 'constitutes a danger to the security of Canada' and does not face a risk of torture in India.
Justice Blais on June 23 reportedly rejected Sogi's application to delay his removal till the conclusions of Immigration Minister's office, are reviewed in the court. At this stage it is not clear whether Sogi has any other avenue to appeal the ruling of Justice Blais at this late stage that could further delay his removal to India.