The Indian diplomat, who was expelled by the Canadian government on allegations that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist, is an IPS officer from the Punjab cadre of the 1997 batch who was at the vanguard of the state’s war on drugs. Since then, the ‘senior Indian diplomat’ has been revealed to be Pavan Kumar Rai, who is reportedly the head of the Canadian station for India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country’s intelligence service. The expulsion of Rai was not mentioned in India’s statement. India, on the other hand, vehemently denied the accusations, calling them motivated and abusive.
In 2018, Rai was sent by the Indian High Commission to Ottawa as Minister (Eco, Coordination, Community Affairs). In 2009–10, when Punjab was facing a drug crisis, Rai was Taran Tarn’s SSP. On January 31, 2023, the Punjab government promoted him to Additional Director General of police (ADGP) along with seven other IPS officers.