Canadian security officials suspected that two main intelligence agencies of India had asked an Indian national to influence Canadian politicians into supporting New Delhi’s interests, the report suggests.

One of suspects’ assigned tasks was to “convince politicians that funding from Canada was being sent to Pakistan to support terrorism”, according to the letter, dated May 30, 2018.

Indian intelligence agencies used money and disinformation to influence politicians in Canada into supporting its interests overseas, reported Canadian publication Global News.

The report, based on federal court proceedings and a highly sensitive government document obtained by the publication, claims that India’s top intelligence agencies – the Research Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) – were behind the operation which started in 2009.

Canadian security officials suspected that two main intelligence agencies of India had asked an Indian national to influence Canadian politicians into supporting New Delhi’s interests, the report suggests.

Contacting upon the matter, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s office refused to comment on the case but said the government was “concerned when any country shows destabilizing behavior, including interference in other countries’ democratic systems.”

The suspected is the editor-in-chief of an unnamed Indian newspaper was detained in connection — referred as A.B in the report. He allegedly met Indian intelligence over a dozen times over six year. His wife and son are Canadian citizens.

Foreign Interference: Canada accuses #India's intelligence agencies of targeting Canadian politicians in covert influence operation involving $, w/expert commentary from @StephanieCarvin https://t.co/5YFKDqG945 pic.twitter.com/aeposDNqPi — Stewart Bell (@StewGlobal) April 17, 2020



His last meeting with Indian spy agencies was a month after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada in 2015.

“You stated that you were tasked by RAW to covertly influence Canadian government representatives and agencies on behalf of the Indian government,” according to a letter sent to him by an immigration official. “You stated that you were told to identify random Caucasian politicians and attempt to direct them into supporting issues that impacted India.”

“You stated that the guidance from RAW included that you were to provide financial assistance and propaganda material to politicians in order to exert influence over them,” letter reads.

He denied allegations he had been “covertly” “tasked” by Indian “handlers,” and said he had only met the intelligence agencies in his capacity as an editor. One of his assigned tasks was to “convince politicians that funding from Canada was being sent to Pakistan to support terrorism”, according to the letter, dated May 30, 2018.