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The lawyer of a stateless man who has again been charged with drug crimes says the new charges will not affect Deepan Budlakoti’s efforts to be declared a Canadian citizen.

Yavar Hameed said he is waiting to hear back on his application to the Supreme Court of Canada for review of a Federal Court of Appeal decision “relating to the factual and legal question of whether or not (Budlakoti) is a Canadian citizen.”

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The Citizen reported Monday that Budlakoti was charged Dec. 18 with possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possessing property obtained by crime. He was arrested at his Gatineau apartment by the Gatineau police anti-gang squad in a raid that turned up nearly $10,000 worth of cocaine, a semi-automatic handgun and ammunition.

“These charges have no bearing on that application,” Hameed said in a statement to the Citizen.

“In terms of removal prospects under immigration law, the new charges do not make him a citizen of India or any other country, so his removal is still unenforceable in law.”