Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Former MP Raj Grewal sues for damages following acquittal last year

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Feb, 2024 10:49 AM
  • Former MP Raj Grewal sues for damages following acquittal last year

Former Liberal MP Raj Grewal is seeking millions of dollars in damages from the RCMP and the Ontario attorney general after being acquitted of using his political office for personal gain.

In a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court, Grewal's counsel alleges the Mounties were negligent in their investigation and that the Crown breached his right to a fair trial by unreasonably pursuing the prosecution.

Grewal left the federal Liberal caucus in 2018 after his gambling problem came to light, and he chose not to run for re-election in the Ontario riding of Brampton East the following year. 

In 2020, the RCMP charged him with four counts of breach of trust and one count of fraud over $5,000.

The Crown alleged that Grewal offered access to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and help with immigration files in exchange for large loans that went toward his gambling debt. 

A judge concluded that a reasonable jury, given proper instruction, would not have been able to return a guilty verdict, and she therefore acquitted Grewal of the two breach of trust counts still on the table at that point.

Grewal says while he sought financial help from friends and family to cover gambling losses, he never did so in connection with his duties or privileges as an MP. 

"The fundamental flaws in the case against Mr. Grewal were obvious from the early stages of the investigation," reads the statement of claim.

"The State must not be permitted to use the coercive powers of the criminal justice system to pursue meritless charges."

Grewal's acquittal, on its own, does not rectify or excuse the RCMP's negligence and the Crown's misuse of the criminal justice system, adds the statement.

It says Grewal suffered "significant and ongoing damages" as a result of these actions, as he was forced to live with the social stigma of being an accused person and suffered irreparable damage to his budding political career.

"He was also forced to incur the significant expense of retaining and instructing counsel to represent him in a criminal proceeding that lasted far longer than it reasonably should have," the statement reads.

"To this day, as the enduring damage to his reputation persists despite his acquittal, Mr. Grewal continues to face difficulty obtaining reasonable financing to purchase commercial and personal assets, among other business losses."

The provincial attorney general and the RCMP will have an opportunity to respond to Grewal's unproven allegations as the court case unfolds.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Efforts underway to stabilize slope threatening two dozen Penticton homes.

Efforts underway to stabilize slope threatening two dozen Penticton homes.
Residents of a mobile home park in Penticton must wait another day to learn when they might be allowed to return to their homes. Twenty-five units in the Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Park were ordered evacuated Tuesday and a state of local emergency was declared when city officials spotted a large and potentially unstable boulder on the hillside above the south Okanagan homes.

Efforts underway to stabilize slope threatening two dozen Penticton homes.

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna
A man whose truck got stuck in the snow west of Kelowna, B.C., needed to be rescued by an RCMP helicopter. Rescuers say the man was unharmed but the situation could have ended much worse and they are warning of a growing trend of drivers relying on online maps to navigate forest service roads.

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists
Police in Abbotsford say businesses in the city are being targeted by extortionists. The Abbotsford Police Department says multiple businesses have received letters seeking protection money to stave off potential violence, but police say the letters have been sent out in a mass mailing to commercial business.

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey
Surrey RCMP is seeking information following an armed robbery that occurred at a Newton business Wednesday morning. On Wednesday, at approximately 11:08 a.m. Surrey RCMP received the report of an armed robbery at a business located in the 8100-block of 128 Street. One person sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K
Surrey R-C-M-P say their financial crimes unit investigated the alleged fraud spanning from 2015 to 2021 after a victim came forward claiming they lost millions of dollars in real estate investment opportunities.  Police say Raj allegedly committed large-scale financial fraud and was arrested and charged with fraud over five-thousand dollars. 

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges
A 61-year-old man who accidentally left his cellphone at a New Westminster SkyTrain station is now facing child porn charges. A statement from the Transit Police says pornography was found on the phone when it was searched for contact information, so it could be returned.

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges