During a bail hearing in Toronto, Mandy Paradkar, the wife of an Ontario lawyer allegedly involved in an international drug smuggling network, refuted claims of her husband receiving lavish gifts or suspicious cash from clients over their long marriage. Federal prosecutors are probing the couple’s finances and professional dealings as Mandy Paradkar shares her testimony in court.
Her husband, Deepak Paradkar, is among eight Canadians apprehended on extradition warrants linked to an FBI operation targeting former Olympian-turned-drug lord Ryan Wedding. U.S. authorities accuse Deepak Paradkar, 62, of advising Wedding on the murder of a federal witness and introducing him to drug traffickers operating across North America.
According to officials, the lawyer, also known as “cocaine_lawyer” on social media, allegedly received payments through cash drops and luxury items like watches. However, during her testimony, Mandy Paradkar stated that while it’s not uncommon for lawyers to receive cash payments from clients, she never found any of the amounts her husband received suspicious. She mentioned that the gifts her husband received were limited to alcohol or chocolates, with no extravagant items.
In his bid for bail, Deepak Paradkar proposed strict conditions, including round-the-clock house arrest, GPS monitoring, and a joint $5 million pledge with his wife until his extradition hearing.