A Kelowna business owner who is alleged to be involved in gang activity may be forced to forfeit nine properties to the provincial government.

In February, the Director of Civil Forfeiture filed its first suit against Kulwant Singh Bal, requesting that six properties owned and operated by alleged drug trafficker Bal, his wife Catherine Angela Bal, and associates Darshan Kaur Bal, and Jaskaran Singh Sidhu, and related bank accounts be turned over to the province.

On April 23, Bal filed a response to the claim denying allegations of unlawful activity and stating that he is not a member of a criminal organization.

Then, on April 25, a second claim was filed in the Supreme Court of B.C., against Bal. The suit requests that three additional properties located in Lumby that are owned by Bal as well as approximately $80,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency, be turned over to the government as it is alleged to be “proceeds and instruments of unlawful activity.”