An Indian family has left Canada after bullets were fired outside their home in Brampton and an alleged extortion demand of USD 500,000 followed, according to the victim.
The incident has become part of a growing number of extortion-related cases being investigated by police in the Greater Toronto Area.
Shooting Outside Home in Early January
The incident occurred on 3 January 2026, when a masked gunman allegedly fired seven to nine bullets outside the Brampton residence of Vikram Sharma, an immigration consultant based near Toronto.
Police said the gunfire caused damage to Sharma’s car and garage. No injuries were reported.
At the time of the shooting, Sharma was asleep inside the house with his family. He later told media that he initially mistook the sound of gunshots for firecrackers due to New Year celebrations.
Around 30 minutes later, police arrived at his home and informed him that the property had been shot at.
Video Sent, Followed by Extortion Call
Later the same afternoon, Sharma said he received a video from an unknown number that allegedly showed footage of the shooting outside his house.
Soon after, he received a phone call demanding USD 500,000, with a threat that his family would be killed if the money was not paid.
According to Sharma, he was given one day to arrange the payment.
Further Threats After No Payment
When no payment was made, Sharma said he received six to seven additional threatening calls on 6 January. During these calls, the caller allegedly warned that “the next bullet will be for him.”
Sharma said the repeated threats left his family in fear for their lives.
Family Leaves Canada
Fearing for their safety, Sharma, his wife, and their four-month-old daughter vacated their home and left Canada.
He said police advised him to change locations, switch off his phone, and cancel his phone number. Sharma also expressed dissatisfaction with the response, saying he did not feel adequately protected.
“We didn’t come to Canada for this. We came for peace, for the system,” Sharma said. “Our family decided that staying there was not the smart thing to do.”
Police Investigation Ongoing
Peel Regional Police confirmed that no suspect details have been released so far. The case is being handled by the department’s Extortion Investigations Task Force.
Police data shows that more than 400 extortion cases were reported in the region last year. Authorities have acknowledged concerns about a rise in extortion threats, particularly targeting South Asian business owners.
The investigation into the Brampton shooting and extortion threats is ongoing.
