Indian Canadian restored to cabinet post after exoneration

VANCOUVER - Kash Heed, the Indian-origin solicitor general of British Columbia province in Canada who was cleared of any wrongdoing in his poll campaign last year, was Tuesday restored in his office.

Premier Gordon Campbell announced his restoration as solicitor general and minister of public safety.

A former chief of West Vancouver City Police, Kash Heed (short from Kashmir Heer) is one of the three Indo-Canadians now serving in cabinet posts in Canada, including federal parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai and Ontario provincial minister Harinder Takhar.

Denying any knowledge of wrongdoing, Heed voluntarily resigned last month after police started investigating complaints of malpractices during his May 2009 election campaign.

Investigators Monday exonerated Heed, but charged three Indian Canadians - Barinder Sall, Satpal Johl and Dinesh Khanna - who headed his poll campaign with 12 violations under the Canadian Criminal Code and the Election Act.

Clearing him of any wrong-doing, special investigator Terrance Robertson, said, “The Special Prosecutor has not approved any charges against Kash Heed.”

Re-instating the Indian Canadian to his cabinet post Tuesday, Premier Gordon Cambell said, “Kash Heed has dedicated his career to public service and has acted in the best interest of his constituents.

“I am sure this has been difficult both for Kash Heed and his family. I am pleased that this has been resolved quickly and I am pleased to re-appoint him as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.”

A highly respected cop, Heed had quit as chief of the city police to contest the May 2009 elections at the urging of the premier.

He is the third-generation Indian Canadian in Canada’s British Columbia province which is home to the largest concentration of Indians in this country.

The first Indian immigrants came here in the late 19th century.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)