Quicksplained: Who is Nicholas Singh, the Indian-origin ‘most-wanted’ criminal, arrested in Canada?

After 18 months on the run, Toronto police arrested 24-year-old Nicholas Singh, who is on Canada’s most-wanted list. The Indian-origin criminal was unlawfully at large while serving a five-year, five-month and 10-day sentence for robbery and firearm-related offences. A nationwide warrant was issued against him for breaching parole, the cops said while confirming the arrest.

Singh had a gun with him when he was held on Friday night, despite a court’s order that banned him from carrying or owning any weapons, according to Toronto Police.

According to officials, the federal offender went “unlawfully at large” from May 31, 2024, and was on the radar of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) since August.

Here’s what we know about Nicholas Singh and his crimes

● Nicholas Singh is a 24-year-old Indian -origin criminal. Singh was considered high risk by the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement squad, which was monitoring his case. It received a tip on Friday about a suspicious vehicle and found the fugitive.

● On the run for 18 months, Singh was finally arrested in Toronto near Bathurst and Dundas streets around 11:20 pm

● He is ranked number 15 on the BOLO (be on the lookout) programme’s list of Canada’s top 25 most-wanted fugitives.

● Singh had been “unlawfully at large” since May 31, 2024, while he was on parole conditions linked to a previous conviction for armed robbery and other offences.

● In August, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued an appeal, warning the public that he was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for breaching his statutory release.

● During the time of arrest, Singh was found with a gun, despite a prior court order that had banned him from possessing any weapons, according to Toronto police.

● Officers reportedly located a firearm, an extended magazine, and ammunition in the vehicle. Singh was arrested “without any incident,” the police said.

● With this, a series of fresh charges are slapped against Singh, including possessing a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence, possessing a firearm without a required licence and others.

● In a social media post on X, the BOLO (be on the lookout) programme asserted: “We congratulate @TorontoPolice…for the arrest of Bolo’s #15, Nicholas Singh, in Toronto, on November 21, 2025.” It added: “Singh was wanted for being unlawfully at large. He was serving a five-year, five-month and 10-day sentence for robbery and firearm-related charges when he went on the run on May 31, 2024. Many thanks to all Canadians for being on the lookout for Singh! Together, we make our communities safer.”

● Two other Indian-origin fugitives featured in the BOLO list: Gurkirat Singh, 26, wanted by Delta police over an alleged sexual assault from 2024. Dharam Singh Dhaliwal, in the murder of Indian-origin woman Pawanpreet Kaur in 2022, who was shot multiple times at her workplace.

With Inputs from agencies