Simran Preet Panesar, a former Air Canada employee, faces nine counts of theft and conspiracy after a 400‑kg shipment of 99.99 % pure gold disappeared from Toronto Pearson International Airport on 17 April 2023. Police dubbed the incident Canada’s biggest gold heist, launching Project 24K to trace the missing bullion.
Canada has formally requested Panesar’s extradition from India, but Indian authorities deny him exit clearance, citing an Enforcement Directorate report that he may have melted and sold the gold in markets such as Mumbai or Dubai. The ED dossier demands a full investigation into the proceeds, layers, and assets linked to the crime.
Panesar’s Canadian lawyer, Greg Lafontaine, insists the former employee is not a fugitive. "If he’s hiding, he’s hiding in plain daylight," Lafontaine said after an interview. He added that Panesar has been in India working on music videos with his wife and running a recording business, and that he has never fled the country.
Nine others were charged in the case, including Parmpal Sidhu and Ammad Chaudhary, with some charges later withdrawn. Panesar remains the sole person on a Canada‑wide warrant. The next step hinges on India’s legal process; once cleared, Canada will move forward with an extradition request that could see him tried for the $20 million theft.