A Brampton attorney allegedly linked to fugitive Ryan Wedding secured bail on Tuesday morning from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Deepak Paradkar, aged 62, faces accusations of involvement in Wedding’s global drug trafficking enterprise, including advising Wedding on eliminating a witness. Paradkar, known as the “cocaine lawyer,” was apprehended in November and faces potential extradition to the U.S., where he could potentially receive a life sentence if found guilty of charges such as conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to retaliate against a witness.
Justice Peter Bawden’s ruling stipulates that Mr. Paradkar will be released on a $5,250,000 surety bail. His wife and her cousin have been designated as sureties, responsible for overseeing Paradkar to ensure compliance with court directives. Specific bail conditions will be established at a later time.
Despite his law license being suspended in early December by the Law Society of Ontario, Paradkar firmly denies any misconduct. In a recent bid for bail, Paradkar vowed to abide by a 24/7 house arrest condition unless accompanied by his wife or another family member, limiting electronic device use to his wife’s cellphone under her supervision.
During court proceedings, the Department of Justice Canada expressed concerns that Paradkar’s release could jeopardize his safety due to his perceived association with Wedding’s criminal network. Notwithstanding, Justice Bawden dismissed the notion, citing that appointing a surety reduces the risk of Paradkar reconnecting with Wedding’s associates.
Moreover, Justice Bawden highlighted Paradkar’s health and age as factors in favor of granting bail, noting his diabetes and significant cardiac history as potential risks in a correctional facility. The decision emphasized that Paradkar’s safety might be compromised in jail, making him vulnerable to potential attacks and hindering his ability to defend himself adequately.