Jaspal Atwal, the man who was at the centre of controversy over an invite he received to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official events in India, has been charged with uttering threats in connection to an April 23 incident in Surrey, B.C. </s> Charges against a central figure in the controversy that surrounded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2018 trip to India have been stayed.

Jaspal Atwal was charged last May with uttering threats against Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, host of a daily Punjabi-language talk show.

Atwal was charged with one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in the alleged incident, which is said to have occurred on April 23, 2018, according to documents filed in a Surrey, B.C., court.

Atwal has always denied the charges.

The B.C. Prosecution Service wrote in an emailed statement it decided to drop proceedings against Atwal on June 7 after further information was received by the prosecutor in the case.

"After reviewing this information and the rest of the file materials, the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met," the statement said.

A stay of proceedings can occur if it is determined there isn't a likelihood of conviction, or if public interest would not be served by prosecuting. Crown prosecutors can decide to reinstate charges within one year of staying proceedings.

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau with Jaspal Atwal at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's official visit to India in February 2018. (Supplied by Jaspal Atwal)

Atwal, a Canadian of Indian descent, was previously convicted of attempted murder for trying to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was visiting Vancouver Island in 1986. Atwal served time in prison and was later released on parole.

During Justin Trudeau's 2018 visit to India, Atwal turned up at an official event and got an invitation to another at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. </s> The charges against the man once at the centre of controversy stemming from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ill-fated trip to India have been stayed.

Jaspal Singh Atwal was charged in May 2018 with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in connection to an incident involving a Punjabi radio host in Surrey, B.C on April 23, 2018.

On Monday, the B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) confirmed those charges were stayed on June 7, citing further information received by Crown.

READ MORE: Jaspal Atwal to plead not guilty to charges of threatening radio host in B.C.

“After reviewing this information and the rest of the file materials the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “In these circumstances a stay of proceedings is the appropriate course of action.”

The BCPS would not go into detail about what that information was or where it came from, but did say it made the possibility of conviction in the case unlikely.

Atwal pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were announced. At the time, his lawyer, Marvin Stern, said he intended to “vehemently deny” the allegations.

The former Sikh separatist militant was previously convicted of trying to assassinate an Indian cabinet minister in B.C. in 1986.

He became a central figure in Trudeau’s troubled visit to India in February 2018 after he was spotted mingling with members of the Canadian government delegation at an event in Mumbai.

Atwal was also invited to a second event in New Delhi, but his invitation was rescinded after media exposed his identity to the public.

READ MORE: Jaspal Atwal lawyer says media has ‘obsession’ with client, criticizes reporter for asking questions

The nature of Atwal’s relationship with Trudeau, his family and the Liberal government sparked weeks of calls from the opposition for a proper explanation.

At one time, a government spokesperson tried to suggest Atwal was cleared to attend the events in an attempt by factions in India to embarrass Trudeau, but that claim was never backed up.

Atwal was also the subject of a bizarre press conference in B.C. shortly after the India controversy broke, where Atwal read from a prepared statement explaining his presence at the events.

The press conference became heated when Atwal’s lawyer Rishi Gill was challenged on why his client wouldn’t take direct questions from the media.

Global News has reached out to Gill and Stern for comment. </s> The attempted assassin whose photo-op with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau sparked a major controversy earlier this year was recently charged with uttering threats.

Court records show Surrey, B.C. resident Jaspal Atwal is accused of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in connection with an alleged incident on April 23.

A source confirmed it's the same Jaspal Atwal who was convicted in 1986 of trying to murder an Indian official who was visiting Canada.

In February, a picture emerged of the convict posing with Justin Trudeau's wife during the Prime Minister's trip to India, raising questions about security protocols because of Atwal’s notorious past.

But Atwal insists he has since moved on with his life, and renounces terrorism in all forms.

In March, Atwal's lawyer said his client was allowed on the trip because he no longer is considered a security threat, and that India granted him three entry visas last year.

Atwal is expected to appear in court next on May 24. </s> Jaspal Atwal, the central figure in the controversy that surrounded the prime minister's February trip to India, has been charged with uttering threats.

He was charged in British Columbia with one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in an alleged incident that is said to have occurred on April 23, according to documents filed in a Surrey, B.C., court.

Court documents show bail was paid three days later, and Atwal is scheduled to appear in court on May 24.

Atwal, a Canadian of Indian descent, was previously convicted of attempted murder for trying to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was visiting Vancouver Island in 1986.

During Justin Trudeau's visit to India, Atwal turned up at an official event and got an invitation to another at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

Photos of Atwal posing with a Liberal cabinet minister and Trudeau's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai were sent to media outlets, including the CBC, touching off a public relations firestorm for the Trudeau government that continued in the House of Commons for weeks. </s> SURREY, B.C.—The BC Prosecution Service says it won’t pursue a charge of uttering threats against the man who sparked a political firestorm when he attended an event during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s state visit to India last year. The prosecution service says it has directed a stay of proceedings for Jaspal Atwal on a charge unrelated to Trudeau’s state visit.

Atwal’s lawyer Marvin Stern said in May 2018 that a charge of uttering threats was laid against his client following an alleged argument in April. Atwal was convicted of trying to kill an Indian cabinet minister during a visit to Vancouver Island in 1986, but has said he has since renounced terrorism. Critics said he should never have received an invitation to the state event in Mumbai, where he was photographed in February 2018 with Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

The prosecution service says the stay was directed in court on June 7 after receiving new information and determined the charge approval standard could no longer be met. It says in a statement that the standard requires Crown counsel to consider whether there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and whether the public interest requires a prosecution. Read more: Jaspal Atwal, man at centre of Trudeau controversy, charged in B.C. for uttering threats “As new information is received, Crown counsel continue to evaluate whether the evidentiary standard is met or the public interest continues to require a prosecution. If, at any stage, this standard is no longer met, the prosecution cannot proceed and a stay of proceedings is entered,” the service says.

Stern said Atwal has denied the allegation lodged by a radio broadcaster from the outset. “It’s unfortunate it’s taken this long to straighten out,” Stern said. </s> The former Sikh separatist militant and convicted attempted murderer whose invitation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s official events in India sparked a political controversy has been charged with uttering threats.

Court papers show that a Jaspal Singh Atwal was charged with “uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm,” in connection with an April 23 incident in Surrey, B.C.

Global News can confirm that the man is the same Jaspal Atwal synonymous with the infamous “Atwal affair” that erupted in the wake of Trudeau’s trip to India in February.

Atwal was released on $1,000 bail before reappearing in a provincial court in Surrey on Thursday. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on May 24.

It’s not known who was the target of the alleged threats at this time.

NOTEBOOK: Rampant ‘misinformation’ on Jaspal Atwal affair sparked decision to brief reporters, says Daniel Jean

Atwal, who was convicted of trying to assassinate an Indian cabinet minister in B.C. in 1986, became a central figure in Trudeau’s troubled visit to India after he was spotted hobnobbing with members of the Canadian government delegation at an event in Mumbai.

He was also invited to a second event in New Delhi, but his invitation was rescinded after media exposed his identity to the public.

B.C. Liberal MP Randeep Sarai said he was solely responsible for the invite, but a Trudeau government official — who was not identified at the time — told reporters that rogue factions within the Indian government arranged the invitation to sabotage the trip, a suggestion that the Indian government slammed as “baseless and unacceptable.”

The official was later revealed to be national security adviser Daniel Jean.

Jean testified about the issue in the House of Commons last month, and defended his decision to speak with reporters by saying that he was obliged to counter what he described as “misinformation” circulated by Canadian news outlets. </s> Open this photo in gallery Jaspal Atwal, right, arrives with his lawyer, Rishi Gill, for a news conference in downtown Vancouver, on Thursday, March, 8, 2018. Mr. Atwal said Thursday that since he was convicted of trying to kill an Indian cabinet minister in 1986, he has tried to contribute to Canadian society and those efforts include meeting politicians from various parties. JONATHAN HAYWARD

Jaspal Atwal, a B.C. resident who sparked a political storm after he attended a reception in India with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has been charged with uttering threats against a local radio host in Canada.

Mr. Atwal faces one count of “uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm,” court documents show.

He allegedly made remarks outside a Punjabi radio station in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey, his lawyer Marvin Stern said in an interview on Sunday. “Mr. Atwal vehemently denies making any threats to this fellow,” Mr. Stern said. “It was a conversation outside, in the parking lot of the radio station.”

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During Mr. Trudeau’s state visit to India in February, Mr. Atwal was photographed with the Prime Minister’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, at a reception in Mumbai. Questions arose about how Mr. Atwal ended up on the guest list for the reception, overshadowing Mr. Trudeau’s trip.

“Mr. Atwal has answered any controversy over the governmental trip to India. That situation is long over and has nothing to do with this charge,” said Mr. Stern, whose client is alleged to have threatened the radio talk-show broadcaster on April 23.

After being arrested at home on April 25, Mr. Atwal made an appearance the following day in provincial court in Surrey, but “was released on his own recognizance without cash or surety,” Mr. Stern said.

Mr. Atwal’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 24. “If he doesn’t show up in court, he could be liable for $1,000,” the lawyer said.

In 1986, Mr. Atwal, then an advocate for the movement supporting an independent Sikh nation, was involved in an attack on a minister of state from India visiting British Columbia. He was convicted of attempted murder, sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and paroled after five years.

Mr. Atwal, who was born in 1955, retired after working at a lumber mill and in sales. He has said he visited India many times since his release from custody, most recently in 2017 and 2018, with a visa from the Indian government.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister’s Office said in March that Mr. Trudeau does not know Mr. Atwal: “The Prime Minister attends hundreds of events each year and meets with tens of thousands of people.” </s> The man at the centre of a controversy surrounding the prime minister's trip to India "vehemently denies" threatening a B.C. radio host, according to his lawyer.

Court documents show Jaspal Atwal was charged last month with threatening Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, host of a daily Punjabi-language talk show broadcast online by Media Waves Communications.

Atwal made headlines during Justin Trudeau's February trip to India, when he showed up at an official event despite a previous conviction for trying to assassinate an Indian cabinet minister during a trip to Vancouver Island in 1986.

His lawyer, Marvin Stern, says Atwal denies threatening the radio host.

"There was a conversation between the two of them in the parking lot of the radio station in question," Stern said.

"But there were no threats issued by Mr. Atwal whatsoever."

The incident allegedly occurred on April 23. In information sworn two days later, Atwal was charged with uttering or conveying a threat to cause death or bodily harm to Dhaliwal.

The 62-year-old was released last month on $1,000 bail with conditions that include having no contact with any employees of Media Waves, a company that claims to broadcast to 300,000 South Asians in Canada.

He is allowed to have written communication with station owner Ashiana Khan.

Atwal must also have no contact with Dhaliwal or any members of his immediate family.

Stern would not elaborate on the subject of the conversation between Atwal and Shaliwal.

He also refused to provide any detail on Atwal's involvement with Media Waves. He said Atwal wants the matter to go to trial.

Atwal's next scheduled court appearance is May 24.

During Trudeau's visit to India, Atwal also received an invitation to an event at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

Photos of Atwal posing with a Liberal cabinet minister and Trudeau's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai were sent to media outlets, including the CBC, touching off a public relations firestorm for the Trudeau government that continued in the House of Commons for weeks.
Criminal charges are stayed against Jaspal Atwal, the central figure of controversy that surrounded Justin Trudeau's trip to India. He was charged in May 2018 with uttering threats against a Punjabi radio host.