Edmonton Home Serves as Unlikely Hub for Indian Conglomerate Accused of Disinformation and Political Meddling
An unassuming split-level house in south Edmonton, complete with a brick facade and a spruce tree, serves as the Canadian headquarters for the Srivastava Group, an Indian conglomerate with purported offices in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada. While the company claims involvement in newspaper publishing and oil and gas ventures, Canadian national security officials allege its involvement in far more clandestine activities. According to declassified CSIS reports, the Srivastava Group and its vice-chair, Ankit Srivastava, have been implicated in efforts to influence Canadian politicians and spread disinformation through fake news websites.
The 2015 CSIS report alleges that Indian intelligence agencies tasked Srivastava with cultivating relationships with Canadian politicians, providing them with financial assistance and propaganda material to sway their support towards issues favorable to India. This alleged directive included efforts to convince politicians that Canadian funding was being funneled to Pakistan to support terrorism, a long-standing grievance of the Indian government. A subsequent 2021 CSIS report further linked the Srivastava Group to the creation and operation of fake news websites masquerading as legitimate Canadian news outlets, pushing pro-India narratives and criticizing Pakistan.
These revelations have raised serious concerns within the Canadian government, with immigration officials deeming Srivastava a “serious threat to Canada” and barring him from entering the country. Officials expressed concerns that the Srivastava Group’s alleged disinformation campaigns could compromise the integrity of Canadian elections by manipulating public opinion and the information available to voters. This case emerges amidst a broader context of alleged Indian government interference in Canadian affairs, including disinformation, political meddling, and even violence, as highlighted by a recent report from Canada’s foreign interference commission.
Ankit Srivastava, a 42-year-old businessman who studied in Geneva and married a Canadian woman, has consistently denied the allegations against him. He claims that his interactions with Indian intelligence officers were solely in his capacity as a journalist for the New Delhi Times, a newspaper owned by the Srivastava Group, and that he refused any offers of financial compensation for lobbying Canadian politicians. He insists his requests were to lobby, not to spy or provide sensitive information. He emphasizes his intentions to expand his media business into Canada and portrays himself as an aspiring immigrant seeking to join his wife and family in Canada. While a Federal Court judge overturned the initial immigration department decision against Srivastava, the case remains under review amidst ongoing investigations and new allegations.
The Srivastava Group, which portrays itself as a rapidly growing conglomerate with interests in various sectors, including natural resources, clean energy, and media, has faced increasing scrutiny. The company’s alleged involvement in disinformation campaigns, particularly through fake news websites designed to resemble legitimate Canadian outlets, has raised red flags. These websites reportedly promoted pro-India content while disseminating misleading or false information about India’s rivals, targeting South Asian communities within Canada. Further concerns have been raised about the potential link between the Srivastava Group and Aglaya Scientific Aerospace Technology Systems, a company owned by Srivastava’s brother that sells “information warfare” tools, raising concerns about potential cybersecurity threats.
The Canadian government’s efforts to block Srivastava’s immigration application underscore the growing concern over foreign interference and disinformation campaigns targeting democratic processes. While Srivastava maintains his innocence and challenges the credibility of the reports linking him to these activities, the allegations raise serious questions about the potential impact of foreign influence operations on Canadian society. The case highlights the challenges of balancing national security concerns with individual rights and the ongoing need for vigilance against disinformation in the digital age. The Srivastava Group’s online presence has diminished significantly since the allegations surfaced, and its Canadian operations appear to have ceased. The case underscores the complex and evolving landscape of foreign interference and the challenges faced by governments in addressing these threats.