Edmonton police apply to extradite man accused of organizing extortion series

Maninder Dhaliwal. (Supplied)

Police have applied to extradite the man they accuse of organizing an extortion series targeting South Asian homebuilders in Edmonton.

Maninder Dhaliwal, 35, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on separate charges in late 2024.

The Edmonton Police Service has now applied to extradite Dhaliwal to Alberta, and the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service on Tuesday filed an indictment to proceed to trial, EPS said in a news release.

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Dhaliwal and six other people arrested last July are facing a total of 54 charges, including extortion and arson.

“This investigation has been a massive effort on the part of EPS investigators, with never-before-seen complexities involving international coordination, and we are very pleased to see it conclude with the request for the extradition of Dhaliwal,” Insp. Duane Hunter said.

EPS investigated a total of 40 incidents as part of the series it called Project Gaslight.