Indian-origin landlady arrested in Surrey after tenant dispute over barbecue escalates

Barbecue row to arrest: Indian-origin landlady's Canada dispute goes viral

A dispute between an Indian-origin landlady and her tenant in Surrey, British Columbia, has drawn widespread attention after videos documenting the conflict went viral on social media, culminating in the woman's arrest by local police.

The woman, identified in Indian media reports as Raj Tiwana, was taken into custody after a series of confrontations at the rental property escalated from a disagreement over barbecuing into allegations of unauthorised entry, changed locks and removal of property.

Surrey Police Service confirmed an arrest was made but said no charges have yet been approved and the investigation remains ongoing, according to fact-checking website BOOM, which contacted the force directly.

The dispute unfolded in Surrey, Metro Vancouver's largest city by population, where demand for rental housing has consistently outpaced new supply in many neighbourhoods. Average rents in the city stood at approximately $2,000 per month as of August 2026.

Barbecue argument sparks confrontation

According to the tenant's account, the conflict began when he and a friend were preparing food on a barbecue outside the rental property. Tiwana objected, claiming the barbecue had caused what she described as burns on the side of her house.

The tenant argued the marks were rust and insisted that as a paying tenant, he had the right to invite a friend for dinner. The exchange, captured on video by the friend, grew increasingly heated.

In footage posted online, Tiwana is seen using a piece of wood to knock food off the grill, saying she could not allow cooking on her property and threatening to call police. The tenant and his friend eventually picked up their food and left.

The videos were posted on an Instagram account called Tiwana Farm Survivor, which presents largely the tenant's perspective. Hindustan Times noted it could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

Allegations of illegal entry and lock changes

The tenant subsequently posted additional videos alleging repeated interference with his home. One clip purportedly shows the locks to his rental unit being changed. Another shows four men entering the unit, with one reportedly saying "He's here" before the group leaves when they encounter the tenant.

Under British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act, landlords must provide tenants with at least 24 hours' written notice before entering a rental unit, and entry must take place between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., except in emergencies. Landlords in the province cannot physically remove tenants or lock them out of their rental units, as such lockouts are illegal and subject to expedited dispute resolution through the Residential Tenancy Branch.

The tenant demanded to know why the men were inside his home. Tiwana is seen sitting in a vehicle outside, telling the men in Punjabi to leave while she calls police, according to Hindustan Times.

In another confrontation captured on video, Tiwana is allegedly seen entering the tenant's unit and throwing a rock towards him. The footage also appears to show her shoving his arm as he records the incident and attempting to strike his friend with an object.

The tenant claimed separately that Tiwana entered his home while he was away and changed the locks. He also alleged at one stage that the entrance door to his rental unit had been completely removed.

Police intervene multiple times

Surrey Police Service told BOOM that officers had been called to the property several times over the ongoing landlord-tenant dispute. Importantly, police said both the landlord and the tenants had contacted officers for assistance at different times.

Police rejected claims circulating on social media that the dispute or arrest was connected to the cooking of beef or had a religious or ideological motive. The force emphasised the arrest had nothing to do with beef, meat, religion or ideology.

The Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia receives approximately 20,000 applications for dispute resolution each year, reflecting the scale of landlord-tenant conflicts across the province. Housing matters fall under provincial jurisdiction in Canada under the Constitution Act, 1867, meaning more than 4.4 million renter households across the country navigate different rules depending on their location.

Arrest captured on video

One of the final videos posted by the tenant shows police arriving at Tiwana's home and asking her to step outside with her phone and keys.

"Raj, right now, you're under arrest," an officer can be heard telling her.

Tiwana appears surprised and asks to call her daughter and lawyer before officers handcuff her and escort her to a police vehicle.

During the exchange, police tell Tiwana that the tenant still has belongings inside the rental unit. She responds that the tenants had left and had not left anything behind. The tenant then tells officers that some of his possessions, including shirts and shoe boxes, remain inside.

Surrey Police subsequently confirmed the arrest but did not officially identify the person arrested. The force said the investigation remains ongoing and noted that the tenants no longer live at the property. Police are no longer receiving calls about disputes between the two sides.

Tenants in British Columbia experiencing illegal landlord entry without proper notice can apply for dispute resolution using the RTB-12 form with the Residential Tenancy Branch, which can order compensation if a breach is established. Tenants cannot change locks on their rental unit without written permission from the landlord or an order from the Residential Tenancy Branch, and doing so could be grounds for eviction.

The tenant later urged social media users not to threaten or harm anyone involved, saying his page was intended to raise awareness about the situation.