A man charged in two high-profile B.C. extortion incidents was living in Canada on an expired student visa at the time of his alleged crimes, according to court records.

CBC News has learned that Vikram Sharma was flagged by authorities weeks before attacks in Surrey and on Vancouver Island in 2024 because he allegedly relied on fraudulent documents in his bid to extend the visa that first allowed him into Canada in June 2022.

The 24-year-old — whose student visa expired in April 2024 — is currently believed to be in India.

Prosecutors said Sharma fled Canada via Toronto Pearson International Airport on Oct. 9, 2024.

That was more than a month after he and co-accused Abjeet Kingra allegedly torched Punjabi musician AP Dhillon's vehicles and fired into his home at the behest of the L

See Full Page