Chandigarh Police Bring Two Alleged Shooters to City in High-Profile Builder Extortion Case
Chandigarh Police have taken significant action by bringing two alleged shooters to the city on a production warrant in connection with the Sector-21 builder firing and ₹5-crore extortion case. The accused, who were transported from Ludhiana by Sector-19 police, were produced before a court and subsequently remanded to two days of police custody for intensive interrogation.
Identities and Gang Links of the Accused
The two individuals have been identified as Ramandeep Singh alias Aakash, a 22-year-old resident of Mullanpur in Mohali, and Narendra Dheer alias Aakash, a 23-year-old from SBS Nagar. Police investigations have revealed that both suspects are allegedly linked to the notorious Kaushal Chaudhary gang, which has been implicated in various criminal activities across the region.
Details of the Firing Incident and Extortion Demand
The incident in question occurred around midnight on January 16, 2026, when bike-borne assailants reportedly fired five rounds outside the Sector-21 bungalow of builder Ankit Sidana. At the time, Sidana, who had returned from Dubai just a day earlier, was at home with his wife and five Punjab Police gunmen. Due to dense fog and the late hour, the security personnel initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers.
The next morning, a white slip was discovered at the scene, bearing the message: "With Love From Mohabbat Randhawa And Pawan Shaukeen." Shortly thereafter, Sidana received a 32-second WhatsApp call from a foreign number, demanding ₹5 crore and claiming responsibility for the firing. This extortion attempt has escalated the case into a major criminal investigation.
Police Investigation and Interrogation Findings
During questioning, it allegedly emerged that a youth named Jaanu had promised each shooter ₹20,000 to carry out the firing outside Sidana's residence. As a result, police have now named Jaanu in the First Information Report (FIR) and are actively probing his connections with gangsters Doni Bal and Kaushal Chaudhary, who are already accused in this case.
In a related development, Sector-19 police are preparing to bring Kaushal Chaudhary on a production warrant on March 15. Police sources indicate that Chaudhary had fractured both legs while attempting to escape by jumping a wall in Ludhiana but has since recovered from his injuries.
Link to Previous Criminal Activity
Police have connected this incident to a prior shooting at a Ludhiana car showroom on January 10, where a similar slip was recovered. Handwriting analysis has confirmed that both slips were written by the same individual, strengthening the case's evidentiary chain.
Ludhiana Police had already arrested the two shooters in connection with the car-showroom case. During their interrogation, they confessed to involvement in the Sector-21 firing as well, which prompted Chandigarh Police to secure a production warrant and bring them to the city for further investigation.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organized crime and extortion rackets in the region, with police continuing to pursue all leads to ensure justice is served.
