Ryan Wedding’s alleged ‘cocaine lawyer’ granted bail
Global News
Deepak Paradkar, a lawyer who has ties to Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding, was granted bail as he awaits an extradition hearing.
The Ontario lawyer accused of being involved in a violent transnational drug ring headed by Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding has been granted bail.
Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden announced his decision on Tuesday as Deepak Paradkar — the so-called “cocaine lawyer” — awaits his extradition hearing.
Paradkar was arrested in Canada under the Extradition Act and was charged by American authorities last month for his reported involvement with Wedding.
Wedding, 44, is facing several murder and drug charges stemming from his alleged drug empire that stretches across the Americas. FBI Director Kash Patel has described Wedding as a “modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar.”
Earlier this month at a bail hearing, the Crown requested Paradkar be denied bail, arguing he was a flight risk and that there was a need to protect the public and maintain confidence in the justice system.
Defence lawyer Ravin Pillay argued the Crown’s suggestion that Paradkar is a flight risk was based on speculation, and that Paradkar — who has no criminal record — has a plan that is as “secure as one could get.”
Paradkar testified during his bail hearing that if released on bail, he would follow what he called the “most stringent” release plan he’s ever proposed in his own career.
That plan would include 24-7 house arrest with no access to electronic devices except for his wife’s cellphone, which would only be used in her presence for communication with his lawyers and sureties. His wife, Mandy Paradkar, and her cousin, Mark Gallagher, would be his sureties.
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