Gunshots Fired at Ludhiana Shop in Sidhu Moosewala-Linked Extortion Case
In a dramatic escalation of an ongoing criminal investigation, unidentified bike-borne assailants fired gunshots at a grain market shop belonging to commission agent Harish Chandar in Payal, Ludhiana, late Tuesday night. This incident occurred just two weeks after the Khanna police booked the former manager of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala for allegedly assisting gangster Doni Bal in an extortion bid against the same agent.
Late-Night Assault Captured on CCTV
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Payal) Jasbinder Singh confirmed that at least three shots were fired around 10:30 PM. The entire incident was captured on closed-circuit television cameras installed at the location. In response, the police have lodged a fresh First Information Report against the unknown miscreants involved in the shooting.
Background: The Extortion Threat and Arrests
The case traces its origins to around March 25, when the trader, Harish Chandar, received multiple calls and a 29-second voice message from a foreign number. In the recording, gangster Doni Bal allegedly demanded ₹1 crore from Chandar, threatening to harm his children if the money was not paid. The gangster brazenly challenged the agent to play the message for senior police officials, asserting he knew the shop's full address.
Investigations led to significant developments. On March 31, the Khanna police arrested Saudagar Singh, father of Shaganpreet Singh (alias Shagan), in connection with the extortion case. Police found that Saudagar Singh conducted reconnaissance of the agent and shared details with his son, who then passed the information to Doni Bal. Shaganpreet Singh, who is currently absconding and believed to be residing in Australia, was also booked under sections 308 and 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Deep-Rooted Criminal Linkages Under Scrutiny
DSP Investigation Mohit Singla stated that during the probe, Shaganpreet Singh's involvement alongside Doni Bal, a resident of Beas, became evident. This connection adds a layer of complexity to the case, as Shaganpreet Singh's name previously surfaced as a suspect in the 2021 Vicky Middukhera murder case in Mohali—an event that preceded the killing of Sidhu Moosewala.
Although Shaganpreet Singh has consistently denied these allegations, claiming a lack of corroborative evidence like call records and asserting false implication, police officials are intensifying their investigation into the deep-rooted linkages between the recent extortion threats and the subsequent gunfire at the commission agent's premises.
Police Action and Ongoing Probe
In light of these developments, police officials indicated they would seek a Look Out Circular against the accused if one was not already active. The authorities are working to unravel the connections between the extortion case, the shooting incident, and broader criminal networks, emphasizing the seriousness with which they are treating this chain of events in Ludhiana.
