Kanishka bombing: Dosanjh to challenge acquitted suspect in civil trial | Irish Sun

Kanishka bombing: Dosanjh to challenge acquitted suspect in civil trial

Irish Sun (IANS) Friday 6th May, 2011

In an interesting twist to the Air India Kanishka bombing case Friday, former Canadian health minister Ujjal Dosanjh said he will challenge acquitted suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik in court to answer direct questions about his role in the plot that killed 329 people.

Malik was accused in the bombing of the Air India flight 182 from Canada to Delhi near the Irish coast June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. The bombing was blamed on Khalistani extremists seeking to avenge the storming of the Golden Temple by the Indian army in 1984.

But Malik and fellow suspect Ajaib Singh Bagri were acquitted in 2005 after a lengthy criminal trial.

However, Malik faced no questions during his criminal trial as he had the right to remain silent. But he now faces direct questions about his alleged role in the bombing plot following a civil lawsuit he filed against Dosanjh earlier this week.

In his lawsuit, Malik has alleged that Dosanjh made damaging statements against him during the recent campaign for parliament elections.

'After I was acquitted, some members of the press and public continued to believe I was guilty. I have tried not to respond every time someone said I was guilty. However, I cannot allow my name to continue to be harmed,'' Malik said in a statement after filing the lawsuit against Dosanjh.

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