In a significant development in the shocking Ludhiana wedding shootout case, Punjab police on Monday arrested a key gangster, identified as Ankur, who is one of the prime accused in the deadly exchange of fire that left two guests dead. The incident occurred late Saturday at the high-profile wedding of government contractor Varinder Kapoor at Bath Castle on Pakhowal Road.
Gangs Clash at High-Profile Venue
According to police, the violent clash involved rival gangs led by the now-arrested Ankur and local gangster Shubham Arora, alias Shubham Mota, who remains absconding. Both groups arrived at the wedding venue "laced with weapons with an intention to kill each other," as stated in the First Information Report (FIR). The wedding was attended by several MLAs, local politicians, and bureaucrats, including AAP’s Ludhiana North MLA Madan Lal Bagga.
Investigations revealed that both Ankur and Mota were personally invited to the wedding by the groom, Varinder Kapoor. Shubham Mota, a known criminal on police records, is currently out on bail in connection with a separate case. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) City 2, Karanveer Singh, confirmed that efforts to nab Mota are ongoing.
Groom Booked, Victims Identified
In a notable twist, the groom, Varinder Kapoor, has been named as an accused in the murder FIR registered at the Sadar Police Station against Mota, Ankur, and their accomplices. ADCP Singh stated that Kapoor has been booked for criminal negligence but is yet to be arrested.
The firing tragically claimed the lives of two guests: Vasu Chopra, the groom's neighbour and childhood friend, and Neeru Chhabra, his maternal aunt. Another man, Jatinder Kumar Dabar, named as an accused from Ankur's group in the FIR, was injured in the shootout. Police indicated that Dabar will be arrested once his medical treatment is complete.
The last rites of Vasu Chopra were performed on Monday amidst emotional scenes, with his grieving family questioning how armed criminals managed to enter the wedding premises.
New FIRs and Ongoing Probe
The Ludhiana police have filed two additional FIRs in connection with the case. One FIR targets the security team of Bath Castle for allegedly failing to prevent the weapon-carrying accused from entering the venue. Security guards Jashanpreet Singh, Lovepreet Singh, and Bhagwant Singh have been booked under sections 163 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for acts endangering public safety.
The second new FIR has been registered against four individuals—Bhushan Kumar, Ajay Kumar Chhabra, Chotu Ram, and Sandeep Kaur—for allegedly sheltering Ankur and his gang members after the shootout. They face charges under BNS sections 249 and 253 for harbouring offenders.
ADCP Karanveer Singh also announced that the Bath Castle resort will not be permitted to host any functions until the investigation is complete. With the latest arrest, the total number of individuals apprehended in connection with the murders has risen to seven, as the police continue their crackdown on the gang violence that disrupted the wedding.
