Grewal's nomination to represent the Liberal Party of Canada in the 2015 election in Brampton East was attended by some controversy, as initial media reports indicated that a brawl took place at the nominating convention when several hundred members were denied the ability to vote. Police attended the scene in a crowd control capacity. Liberal Party officials subsequently denied that there had been any fighting at the scene. In early 2018, the New Democratic Party asked the Ethics Commissioner to investigate whether Grewal violated the conflict-of-interest code over the event on Mr. Trudeau’s India trip. According to his most recent disclosure to the Ethics Commissioner, Grewal had lines of credit with Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto Dominion Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia, as well as the joint mortgage with HSBC Canada. In addition, Mr. Grewal disclosed that he had received employment income from ZGemi Inc. and a law firm called Gahir & Associates during his time in the House. Parliamentary rules do not require MPs to reveal the amounts they were paid, and there is no threshold for disclosure. Backbenchers are subject to fewer rules than ministers in terms of disclosure.
Investigation and resignation from caucus
Grewal had been a member of the influential finance committee of the House of Commons, as well as the health committee. Grewal announced on November 22, 2018 that he intended to resign as MP and was leaving federal politics for personal and medical reasons. A statement released the next day by a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office clarified that Grewal was resigning to seek treatment for problem gambling which had "led him to incur significant personal debts." Grewal reportedly gambled millions of dollars between 2015 and 2018, including at the Casino du Lac-Leamy. The casino's disclosure to FINTRAC then led to an RCMP investigation. In a statement on November 26, 2018 the Office of the Ethics Commissioner said its investigation "will continue as soon as possible in spite of resignation." In its official comment the week before, the Prime Minister’s Office said it was aware “of inquiries by the RCMP regarding the circumstances that were the subject of a complaint to the Ethics Commissioner about Mr. Grewal earlier this year.” The RCMP’s national division would not confirm or deny that it is investigating Grewal. On November 30, 2018, Grewal announced that he was quitting the Liberal caucus but would keep his seat in the House of Commons "for the time being." On January 25, 2019, he announced that he would keep his seat in parliament as an Independent MP until the next federal election in October.
