Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi suing 3 Alberta residents for defamation

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is suing three Alberta residents, alleging Varinder Bhullar, Bob Rai and Abdusselam Huzeyfe Bezirgan repeated false statements about him to damage his reputation.

A statement of claim filed Friday afternoon in the Edmonton Court of King's Bench says Bezirgan, who represents himself as a journalist, launched a video series in 2024 "around false claims that Sohi is involved in serious criminality and corruption."

The claim says Rai was Bezirgan's source and the pair claimed in a series of interviews that Sohi and a close relative "improperly benefited from a major infrastructure project in Regina with Sohi unlawfully using his influence as a minister of the federal government to award a trucking contract for the project to a non-arm's length company."

Bhullar "shared the defamatory videos and added his own false claims," the statement of claim says. 

The allegations have not been proven in court. 

Sohi, who was elected as Edmonton's mayor in 2021, was previously a Liberal member of parliament and cabinet minister. He also served as an Edmonton city councillor.

The claim says Sohi has been subject to death threats and other attacks referencing the defendants' false allegations and his residence was vandalized "due to the direct and indirect lies the defendants have spread about him."

Sohi did not make himself available for interviews about the lawsuit on Friday but said in a news release, "if we allow this toxicity to spread unimpeded and unchallenged, it will create a political environment where Edmontonians, especially from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, are not comfortable fully participating in their democracy."

Sohi's lawyer, Avnish Nanda, said Sohi has been in public life for decades and is willing to engage in criticism, but when he gets emails accusing him of corruption based on information in false videos, "something needs to change."

"We believe this is a concerted strategy or concerted campaign to undermine his reputation," Nanda said. 

In addition to an apology and declaration, Sohi is seeking a $750,000 judgment against the defendants for general damages.

The news release said any proceeds from the legal action awarded to Sohi will be donated to "organizations fighting disinformation in political discourse and to empower underrepresented communities to participate in the democratic process."

Defendants respond

Bezirgan told CBC News in an emailed statement that he stands by his claims. He said the allegations he reported are supported by documentation.

He said prior to publication, he reached out to the mayor with inquiries in good faith, which he did not address.

"I am prepared to defend myself vigorously with strong legal representation," he said.

Bhullar, who was denied the federal Liberal nomination in a riding that was acclaimed by Sohi, told CBC News in a phone interview that he has never met the two other defendants but has been critical of the mayor. He also sent an email to CBC News denying that he collaborated with the other men to defame Sohi.

"If I shared the Bezirgan statement or Mr. Rai's statement, they are responsible for it," he said. 

He said he stands by his own statements.

Bhullar said he is disappointed by Sohi's actions and politicians should be willing to listen.

"This is shutting peoples' voices down," he said. 

CBC News has been unable to reach Rai.

The defendants have 20 days to file statements of defence.