Indian-origin worker in Canada forced to quit job after unwarranted search by Police and deportation threats, lawsuit filed

In the Canadian province of Manitoba, an Indian-origin convenience store worker, Harjot Singh, has taken legal action by filing a lawsuit against Winnipeg police officer Jeffrey Norman. Singh alleges that Norman conducted an unwarranted search of his store and threatened him with deportation, leading to significant distress and ultimately forcing Singh to resign from his job.

According to CBC news channel reports on Friday, Singh recounted that on December 2nd of the previous year, Officer Norman, without a warrant, sought entry to the temporarily closed Sargent Avenue convenience store where Singh worked. Singh complied by unlocking the door after a brief interval, and Norman proceeded to search the premises.

The statement of claim, filed by Singh in late December 2023 in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, outlines that Norman’s search was “warrantless and unreasonable in the manner in which it was carried out.” During the incident, Norman reportedly questioned Singh and issued deportation threats, causing Singh considerable distress to the extent that he decided to resign from his position.

While the allegations within the statement of claim have not been tested in court, the lawsuit contends that Norman’s conduct was high-handed and exhibited discrimination on the grounds of national or ethnic origin. It asserts that the officer’s actions amounted to battery, false imprisonment, arbitrary detention, and an unreasonable search and seizure – all constituting a violation of Singh’s Charter rights.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages, both constitutional and punitive, and also requests a judge to mandate the City of Winnipeg to implement a remedial education program for the Winnipeg Police Service. Norman and the City of Winnipeg are named as defendants in the legal action.

As of now, no statements of defense have been filed, but it is noteworthy that Norman has reportedly been implicated in at least two prior lawsuits alleging excessive use of force, according to CBC reports. The legal proceedings highlight concerns over police conduct, raising questions about unwarranted searches and threats that impact individuals’ lives and employment.