Toronto: Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only
man convicted in the 1985 bombing of Air India Kanishka that
killed 329 passengers, is set to face perjury charges in the
case.
The bloodiest unsolved crime in Canadian history will
be back in the spotlight in a Vancouver Court today as jury
selection begins for next week's perjury trial of Reyat, who
served 20 years in prison for manslaughter for his part in two
bombings.
Reyat, a former Vancouver Island mechanic, will face
trial for perjury for allegedly testifying falsely in
September 2003 at the trial of mill worker Ajaib Singh Bagri
and businessman Ripudaman Singh Malik.
329 passengers were killed after the Air India
Kanishka flight 182 from Montreal to Delhi was blown off
mid-air near the Irish coast June 23, 1985 by a bomb planted
by Khalistani elements.
Malik and Bagri were on trial for their alleged role
as co-conspirators in the plot.
Reyat is accused of telling the court under oath, with
the intent to mislead, that he did not know or recall details
of the alleged conspiracy beyond a few matters, Neil
MacKenzie, a spokesman for the Crown counsel's office, said
yesterday.
Crown counsel alleges he lied 27 times during his
testimony.
On June 22, 1985, homemade bombs were placed on two
flights leaving Vancouver in opposite directions. The bombs
exploded hours later on opposite sides of the world, killing
331 people.
Malik and Bagri were acquitted after being held in
custody for five years. Reyat has been out on bail since the
summer of 2008.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 03, 2010, 21:10