Michael Polak advocates for inquiry into death of Sikh activist

Michael Polak, acting for the family of Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda, has formally requested the West Midlands coroner to open an inquest into Mr Khanda’s death, raising concerns about possible poisoning and inadequacies in the initial investigation.

Mr Khanda died four days after hospital admission in Birmingham. The official cause of death was recorded as acute myeloid leukaemia, a blood cancer. However, concerns have been raised by Mr Khanda’s family about the sudden onset of the illness, particularly against the backdrop of alleged threats and surveillance from Indian authorities due to his Sikh activism.

On behalf of the family, Michale submitted a letter to the coroner, highlighting that a top forensic pathologist had stated that samples were not tested for “nerve agents, biological agents or nuclear agents” that could trigger aggressive cancer and that the same expert had emphasised that “not all poisons leave behind them a defined clinical signature” and that some toxins require specialist testing to detect which had not been done in this case.

Michael Polak also raised concerns regarding the scope of the police investigation, noting that West Midlands Police had not reviewed Mr Khanda’s electronic devices, searched his home address or considered “information about attacks on Sikh activists around the world”.

The family argues that these factors necessitate a full inquest to uncover the circumstances of his death.

Michael’s involvement in this case was reported in The Guardian.