"You must be aware that new leads will not magically appear without active effort from the RCMP and other law enforcement authorities."

"The stance you have taken is illogical and unacceptable to the families. How can the minister for public safety allow the criminals behind the largest terrorist act in Canadian history to go unpunished and for the families to go without justice?"

"[The families want more information on] the nature of scrutiny and oversight your office has had over the investigation over the years."

Sudha Berry, Toronto

 

"Family members were provided with an update concerning an individual (widely referred to as Mr. X) who had come to the attention of investigators. Over time, while an individual was identified, no definitive link to the events under investigation could be established."

"Today, while there are no other persons of interest or suspects under consideration, the investigation remains open. If new or credible information comes forward, it will be investigated. The RCMP has always endeavoured to seek justice for the victims of Air India and that commitment stands." 

RCMP statement 

The Berry family is seen in this portrait taken on May 1, 1985. It's the last photo the family has of Sharad, third from left, who would be killed in the Air India Flight 182 bombing just one month later. (Submitted by Sujata Berry)

 

The RCMP sent a letter on September 12 to "The families of the Victims of Air India Flight 182, 1985"; an invitation to attend a meeting that was planned to "provide an update on the current status of the Air India Flight 182 investigation, including an outline of future steps, stating that "We recognize that this continues to be a deeply personal and difficult experience, and we are committed to keeping you informed and supported." During that meeting the families were informed that no further leads have appeared that might assist the federal force in its pursuit of answers to the deadly terrorist attack.

 

That admission and what it implied, that the investigation was as good as shut down, drove the families to request an urgent meeting with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. The news that the investigation was now inactive failed to sit well with Canadian Hindus of Indian extraction who had lost relatives on that fateful flight when 329 people died on June 12, 1985 when a bomb exploded in flight, destroying Air India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland.

 

A memorial for the Air India bombing is seen in Vancouver in June 2025. The families of the victims say the RCMP has told them the investigation into the bombing is inactive. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

 

The families, given that unexpected turn of events that capped a long investigation by the federal policing agency which was rife with errors and misadventures, felt abandoned. That the RCMP had decided to surrender any further investigations into an attack that was the deadly work of Sikh Canadians connected to the Babbar Khalsa group that demanded an independent Khalistan be carved out of the Punjab region in India was shockingly unacceptable. The group has terrorist status in India and with good reason. 

 

That the Minister of Public Safety had issued a statement to the media that the investigation remained open, in contradiction to the RCMP's statement of closure, attracted the attention of Toronto resident Sudha Berry whose 15-year-old brother had been one of the Air India's victims. Travelling from Canada to India via London, Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland when a suitcase bomb exploded killing all on board. Another bomb, also produced in British Columbia by the Sikh Kalistani group, meant for another Air India flight, blew up at Narita Airport in Tokyo leading to the death of two baggage handlers.

 

Two men linked to the Babbar Khalsa in British Columbia were initially charged with the crime in 2000, but court proceedings in 2005 with insufficient evidence on hand saw them acquitted. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a third suspect, was subsequently convicted of manslaughter in connection with both bombings. He is no longer in prison. Other suspects were identified both during the trial and inquiry, but never charged. It was a generally felt impressionthat the RCMP had bungled the investigation. The worst terrorist plot executed in Canada has never resulted in those responsible facing justice for the atrocity they planned and carried out.

 

Two reporters look over the remains of Air India Flight 182 on June 16, 2004, that were reconstructed by investigators in January 2003. (Chuck Stoody/The Canadian Press)

 

Placatingly, Minister Anandasangaree's office responded to the families' concerns and a further media probe and enquiry, by stating that the investigation remains open, and "should new, credible information or evidence come forward, it will be assessed and investigated and may lead to further investigative steps".   

"Given your [Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree] connections to the community, your previous meetings with the families at the anniversaries and your personal expressions of sympathy, we had expected you to do much better than your predecessors."

"You now have an opportunity to show your leadership and change the trajectory of the investigation."

Sudha Berry for Families of Air India Victims