Supreme Court Demands Fresh Probe into 1985 Air India Kanishka Bombing, Citing 'Unfortunate' Pilot Narrative

New Delhi: In a significant move towards revisiting a dark chapter in Indian aviation history, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central Government, demanding a fresh probe into the horrific 1985 Kanishka bombing of Air India flight 182. The court's strong stance came after noting what it termed as an "unfortunate" narrative surrounding the pilot's role in the tragic incident.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K.V.

Viswanathan initiated the proceedings based on a petition filed by Satnam Singh, who lost his parents in the devastating mid-air explosion. Singh's plea sought a comprehensive re-investigation into the bombing, which claimed the lives of all 329 people on board, including 280 Canadian citizens, most of whom were of Indian origin, and 22 Indian nationals.

The flight, en route from Montreal to Delhi via London, disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, due to a bomb planted by Khalistani extremists.

The petitioner specifically highlighted a narrative that suggested pilot error or negligence contributed to the crash, arguing that this narrative was deeply flawed and detrimental to the memory of those who perished.

"This unfortunate narrative about the pilot, which has been perpetuated for too long, needs to be thoroughly re-examined," observed Justice Surya Kant during the proceedings. The court expressed serious concerns that the focus had unduly shifted towards the pilot, potentially obscuring other critical aspects of the investigation and the true perpetrators.

Satnam Singh emphasized that despite several investigations over the past decades, many questions remain unanswered, and the full extent of the conspiracy has not been unraveled.

He urged the court to direct the government to form a new, high-level investigative team, possibly involving international cooperation, to meticulously re-evaluate all existing evidence and explore new leads.

The 1985 Kanishka bombing remains the deadliest act of air terrorism in history before 9/11 and a profound scar on India's and Canada's collective consciousness.

While several individuals linked to the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group were investigated and some faced charges in Canada, convictions were limited. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a Canadian Sikh, was the only one convicted of perjury and bomb-making, serving a lengthy sentence. The alleged masterminds, Talwinder Singh Parmar and Ripudaman Singh Malik, were either killed or acquitted.

The Supreme Court's notice signals a renewed hope for victims' families who have relentlessly pursued justice for nearly four decades.

By calling for a fresh probe and specifically addressing the "unfortunate" narrative around the pilot, the court aims to ensure that the investigation is holistic, unburdened by past misdirections, and ultimately brings clarity and closure to a case that has long haunted both nations. The Central Government is now expected to respond to the notice, detailing its plan for addressing this critical directive.