Former Brampton Principal Sues Peel Police After Charges Dropped, Alleges Media Suppression

A former principal of a now-defunct private school in Brampton, Ontario, has launched a lawsuit against a Peel Regional Police officer and the police service, claiming his rights were infringed upon following the dismissal of sexual assault and exploitation charges against him last fall.

Sanjiv Kumar, who also goes by Sanjiv Dhawan, faced allegations of sexually assaulting a student at the school where he once worked. Arrested in 2020, he was charged with single counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation. However, in September 2024, Ontario Court Justice Mabel Lai halted the proceedings, according to records from a Brampton courthouse.

Court filings reveal additional twists in the case. In July 2024, a different judge stepped aside from the matter, admitting that while he didn’t believe he harboured bias against Kumar, some of his remarks and actions might have given the impression of partiality.

Kumar’s legal action, initiated in August 2024, accuses Peel police of breaching his Charter rights during his arrest, alongside allegations of defamation and malicious prosecution. In response, Peel Regional Police have filed a defence denying any misconduct and arguing that Kumar’s claims are barred under the Limitations Act due to time constraints.

In a phone interview with this journalist, Kumar expressed frustration not only with the police but also with what he perceives as a deliberate delay by major Canadian media outlets in reporting his story. “All the national media buried this story for seven months,” he said, naming CTV, CP24, City News, Canadian Press, and others. “I sent them this information seven months back. They did not publish it. They did it only when I sued CTV, CBC, Canadian Press, Toronto Star, Brampton Guardian, everybody.”

Kumar further criticized the coverage that eventually emerged, calling it “diluted” and pointing out omissions such as the name of the recused judge and the removal of Crown attorney from the case.