In a significant breakthrough, the Ludhiana police have apprehended a 23-year-old waiter and seized four illegal firearms in connection with a ₹1 crore extortion plot and a shooting incident targeting a local grain merchant. The suspect, identified as Robin, a resident of Himanyupura, was arrested near a village cremation ground while in possession of three .30-bore pistols and one 9-mm handgun.
Details of the Arrest
According to Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Roshan Lal of the Sadar police station, the weapons recovered are believed to have been used in the April 14 attack on the shop of commission agent Harish Chander at Payal. During interrogation, Robin claimed that Hardeep Singh, also known as Laddi or Azad Nihang, from Manjali Kalan village, had left the weapons at his rented accommodation. Robin, who works as a waiter, and Hardeep, a bouncer, reportedly came into contact at a wedding event.
Web of Associates
The investigation has uncovered a complex network of individuals involved in the crime. Among them is Shaganpreet Singh, the former manager of the late Punjabi singer Shubdeep Singh, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala. Shaganpreet is currently a fugitive believed to be residing in Australia. His father, Saudagar Singh, was previously arrested on charges of conducting a reconnaissance of the targeted commission agent's premises. Police allege that Saudagar passed this information to his son, who then facilitated the extortion attempt at Payal, led by overseas gangster Doni Bal.
Timeline of Events
In late March, Harish Chander received voice messages from a foreign number, threatening him to pay the extortion amount or face consequences, including harm to his children. Subsequently, a shooting occurred at Chander's shop. A joint operation between the Khanna and Ludhiana police led to the identification of several co-conspirators, including bouncer Hardeep Singh, who allegedly supplied the weapons to Robin and the shooters — Umesh Kumar, also known as Sonu Chhanga, and Gaurav, alias Gola.
Previous Arrests
The Khanna police had earlier arrested Nirmal Singh, his female accomplice Rani (both from Chhota Suratpur), another individual named Nirmal, Kaku, and Hardeep, linking them to the surveillance, weapon supply, and execution of the Payal grain market shooting. Authorities are now moving to secure a Lookout Circular for Shaganpreet Singh to monitor his movements abroad. Shaganpreet's name has prior associations with the 2021 murder of Vicky Middukhera, which occurred before the killing of Sidhu Moosewala on May 29, 2022, though he denies any involvement in these crimes.
