Canada: Man arrested, charged with murder of Indian woman after 7-month hunt

A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of an Indian national in Toronto last December, according to Canadian authorities.

Abdul Ghafoori was taken into custody at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Friday (August 7, 2026) after returning to Canada following more than seven months on the run, CBC News reported.

The case involves the death of 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, who was found dead inside a Toronto residence in December 2025. Police later determined that her death was a homicide and stated that she was in an intimate partner relationship with Ghafoori.

Officers from the Toronto Police Service’s Fugitive Squad and Homicide and Missing Persons Unit coordinated with national and international law enforcement agencies to facilitate Ghafoori’s return. The country from which he was brought back has not been specified.

After Khurana’s death was ruled a homicide, Canadian authorities issued a countrywide warrant for Ghafoori’s arrest last year.

Ghafoori was formally charged with first-degree murder and was scheduled to appear before the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Saturday (August 8). The Toronto Sun reported the court appearance.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto had earlier expressed shock and grief over Khurana’s death. In a post on X dated December 24, the Consulate said Khurana was a “young Indian national” and that it was extending all possible assistance to her family in coordination with local authorities.

The arrest marks a significant step in a case that has drawn attention to the safety of Indian nationals abroad. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the circumstances of the murder, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Under Canadian law, a charge of first-degree murder indicates that the killing was planned and deliberate. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.