Re: Aakash Nakra
ORB File No: 6590
Hearing held on: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Ms. C. Finley Members: Dr. P. Prendergast Dr. W. Loza Ms. J. Greenwood Ms. R. MacIntyre
Parties Appearing: Accused: Aakash Nakra Counsel: Mr. T. Whillier The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Mr. L. Crowell Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. T. Hewitt
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated April 22, 2026)
Introduction
On August 13, 2014, Aakash Nakra was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of attempt to choke or strangle to commit an offence, assault with a weapon, aggravate assault, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to comply with conditions of a judicial release, and mischief under five thousand dollars, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (ORB/the Board) dated March 18, 2025, detaining him within the General Forensic Unit of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores/the hospital), with discretionary privileges up to and including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodation.
On March 17, 2026, the Board convened a hearing for the annual review of Mr. Nakra’s disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Nakra was present and represented by his counsel, Mr. Whillier.
At the outset of the proceedings, the parties were canvassed as to their positions on the issues to be determined by the Board: whether Mr. Nakra remains a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition having regard to the criteria in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Crowell, on behalf of the hospital, submitted that Mr. Nakra remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a discharge with conditions, including that he reside within Canadian Mental Health Association housing, abstain from substances and consent to treatment pursuant to s. 672.55(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Hewitt, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, and Mr. Whillier concurred in the hospital’s positions. Mr. Whillier confirmed Mr. Nakra’s consent to the inclusion of a condition requiring that he consent to treatment.
Findings
- For the reasons that follow, the panel found that Mr. Nakra remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a discharge with the conditions as recommended by the parties.
The Evidence
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report, dated February 18, 2026 (ex. 1), and the viva voce evidence of Dr. Pallandi, Mr. Nakra’s treating psychiatrist.
The Index Offences
- The details of the index offences are extracted from the Hospital Report, as follows:
“The police synopses described an incident in Mr. Nakra’s home where he assaulted his father. Mr. Nakra had recently been apprehended under the Mental Health Act, however, he was released from hospital on January 22, 2014. On that date, he took an electrical cord, looped it around his father’s neck and pulled it tight. During the struggle that took place, Mr. Nakra punched and kicked his father, who ran to escape from the attack. Mr. Nakra then attempted to choke his father again with the same cord, then he took a glass vase and he used it to strike his father in the head, causing wounds to the head that required staples. Mr. Nakra then fled the home and he took his father’s vehicle. He was located by Peel Regional Police on January 25, 2014 and he was arrested.” _
Background Information
The Hospital Report contains a wealth of information as to Mr. Nakra’s personal history and psychiatric treatment and need not be reviewed in detail in these reasons but for the following material facts.
Mr. Nakra is a 34-year-old single man who was born in India and immigrated to Canada with his family as a child. After completing high school, he attended Sheridan College for two years, taking courses in social work. He did not complete his program, failing the second year due to his not doing his second semester placement. He is currently supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Mr. Nakra has a history of problematic alcohol and cannabis use. He has tested positive for cocaine while under the jurisdiction of the Board. Between 2020 and 2021, he was readmitted to hospital three times due to ongoing substance use, thereby increasing his risk in the community.
Mr. Nakra’s first admission for psychiatric care occurred in January 2014, immediately prior to the index offences. He was brought to the William Osler Health System emergency department by police. Mr. Nakra had returned to his home, where he resided with his parents and sister, and was brandishing a knife and threatening to kill himself. His parents described Mr. Nakra’s decompensation over the previous two years. Mr. Nakr had become increasingly demanding, aggressive and consuming alcohol and street drugs. Mr. Nakra was placed on a Form 1 under the Mental Health Act and admitted to hospital. He was discharged on the day of the index offences.
Following the NCR verdict, Mr. Nakra was admitted to CAMH where he remained until his transfer to Ontario Shores in July 2019. He was discharged to reside in a supported residence in August 2020. Within three weeks of his discharge, he tested positive for cocaine. He was readmitted to hospital in September 2020 for stabilization and risk management.
Mr. Nakra remained in hospital until his discharge on March 1, 2021. On March 9, 2021, his urine tested positive for cannabis. He was readmitted to hospital on April 9, 2021, when he was found to have submitted a tampered urine sample. In July 2021, he eloped from the hospital. He was found by police in Woodbridge.
In June 2023, while exercising a leave of absence to his family’s home, Mr. Nakra failed to check in at the appointed time. He had travelled to a casino in Niagara Falls and then to another casino in Orillia. He also had used cannabis and alcohol.
On October 1, 2024, Mr. Nakra was discharged to CREATE (Collaborative Residents Enabling Assisted Transitional Engagement) Byron housing in Whitby. He continues to reside there. CREATE staff are on site for the majority of the day and are otherwise on call.
Course Since the Last Disposition
Mr. Nakra’s current diagnoses are schizophrenia and substance use disorder (in early remission). His schizophrenia is treated with regular injections of long-acting antipsychotic medication.
Mr. Nakra continues to demonstrate proficiency in managing his independent living skills, such that the treatment team is supporting a move to an independent, subsidized CMHA apartment in the community.
There were a few notable incidents in the last year. In May 2025, Mr. Nakra punched a hole in his bedroom door. He was unable to identify a specific external trigger and identified a sudden onset of internal frustration. He self-reported the incident and quickly returned to his baseline.
In August 2025, Mr. Nakra requested a voluntary psychiatric assessment and admission to hospital, stating he felt unwell and was experiencing significant frustration and anger. He reported damaging a towel holder in his bathroom. He expressed remorse for his actions. He was admitted for two days, during which he received his long-acting injection a couple of days early.
On two occasions, Mr. Nakra’s housemates reported discomfort resulting from Mr. Nakra’s behaviour. One involved Mr. Nakra making inappropriate physical contact and racially charged remarks. The other reported that Mr. Nakra made graphic sexually inappropriate comments. Clinical staff intervened and Mr. Nakra ultimately acknowledged his problematic behaviour. There have been no further reports of any issues with either housemate.
Overall, Mr. Nakra has demonstrated good stability and compliance with treatment. He has evidenced consistent insight into his mental illness and the ongoing need for medication. He recognizes the causal link between medication compliance and symptom prevention. He credited the team for changing the timing of his injections from every 12 weeks to 10 weeks, noting that the change was helpful.
Although Mr. Nakra has stated a desire to resume alcohol and cannabis use, he acknowledges the treatment team’s concerns about the possible negative impact substances use can have on his mental health.
Mr. Nakra continues to benefit from a supportive family. He has frequent contact with his family and exercises extended Leave of Absence privileges of up to three nights to stay at the family residence in Brampton.
Since his most recent discharge to the community, Mr. Nakra’s treatment has focussed on individual check-ins rather than group programming or activities outside of the residence.
Dr. Pallandi testified before the panel. He has been Mr. Nakra’s attending psychiatrist since Mr. Nakra’s most recent discharge into the community. The doctor indicated that the treatment team would be supporting Mr. Nakra’s transition to an independent unit with continued support from CMHA staff and the forensic outpatient team. That would include financial support, as the CMHA apartments are subsidized. Dr. Pallandi estimated that the move would likely occur within a matter of a couple of months.
The team also would slowly decrease the amount of support and supervision in an effort to foster Mr. Nakra’s increasing independence. Should he require more support, similar to the times that he reached out for support this past year, the team would increase contacts, up to seven times a week, if necessary. Should the transition prove problematic, Mr. Nakra could return to CREATE housing. In addition, the team would continue to encourage Mr. Nakra to engage in more activity in the community.
At the conclusion of the evidence, the parties maintained the joint submission.
Analysis and Conclusion
The panel carefully considered the Hospital Report and Dr. Pallandi’s evidence and found that Mr. Nakra continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. Mr. Nakra’s risk flows from his diagnosis of schizophrenia and history of problematic substance use. When using substances, he becomes noncompliant with medication and experiences a deterioration in his mental status. When unwell, he becomes demanding, threatening and aggressive. He has threatened his family while in possession of a knife. The index offences involved repeated attempts to choke his father with an electrical cord and using a glass vase to strike his father in the head. Over the past year, Mr. Nakra has experienced frustration and anger, leading him to environmental aggression on two occasions. He also has expressed a desire to return to alcohol and cannabis use, though acknowledges the treatment team’s concern. As such, at this time he remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Having found that Mr. Nakra represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, the panel must consider the necessary and appropriate disposition having regard to the criteria found in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Nakra has been residing in the community for almost eighteen months. For the most part, he has demonstrated mental stability and a good relationship with the treatment team, Dr. Pallandi and the staff and coresidents at the CREATE housing. He has shown good insight into his mental illness and the ongoing need for medication. Indeed, he has appreciated the decision to increase his injectable medication to every eight weeks.
Mr. Nakra has benefited from the ongoing support from both the CREATE staff and the forensic outpatient team. This past year he has been responsive to their education and support with respect to his behaviour towards his co-residents. They also supported him when he sought a readmission to manage his frustration and anger.
A move to an independent subsidized apartment will provide Mr. Nakra the opportunity to demonstrate an ability to manage independently with decreasing levels of support, such that, in the future, his ongoing mental stability could be managed outside of the forensic system.
In conclusion, the panel finds that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a discharge with the conditions as recommended by the parties. In arriving at our conclusion, the panel has considered the paramount factor of the safety of the public, Mr. Nakra’s mental condition, his community reintegration, and his other needs, all as required by s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 22nd day of April 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Ms. C. Finley Alternate Chairperson
____________________________ Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board