Punjab Police : Arrest Parents of Goldy Brar in Muktsar Extortion Probe
Punjab Police: Punjab Police have taken into custody the parents of Satinderjeet Singh, widely known as Goldy Brar, as part of an investigation into an extortion case registered last year in Muktsar district. The development is linked to a broader crackdown on organised crime networks with roots in Punjab but operations spread across multiple countries.
Arrests Made After Investigative Leads
Police officials confirmed that Brar’s father, Shamsher Singh, and mother, Preetpal Kaur, were arrested in Amritsar following what investigators described as specific leads in the ongoing case. The couple resides in Adesh Nagar along Kotkapura Road in Muktsar, although their family originally belongs to Faridkot district. The case was registered last year based on a complaint filed by a resident of Udekaran village.
Background of the Accused’s Family
Shamsher Singh previously served as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Punjab Police. In 2021, he was compulsorily retired after allegations emerged connecting him to a murder case in Muktsar district. Police sources said this background formed part of the broader inquiry but stressed that the present arrests are tied to the extortion investigation.
Police Confirmation on the Case
Senior Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Rana stated that the arrests were made after sustained investigation and analysis of evidence gathered over time. Officials did not disclose further operational details, citing the sensitivity of the case and the possibility of additional developments.
Goldy Brar’s Criminal Profile
Goldy Brar is a key accused in the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead in Mansa district. Brar had publicly claimed responsibility for the murder. He left India in 2017 on a student visa to Canada and is believed by authorities to be currently residing in the United States.
Terror Designation and Gang Links
In 2024, the Union government designated Brar as an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Authorities allege he played a role in smuggling sophisticated weapons, ammunition and explosives into India using drones, with the intent of carrying out targeted killings. Investigators say he was once associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang but later split and aligned himself with the Brar–Rohit Godara–Kala Jatheri network.
Overseas Gangsters Under Police Scanner
According to data compiled by the Anti-Gangster Task Force of the Punjab Police, as many as 61 gangsters from the state are currently operating from abroad. Eighteen are reportedly based in the United States, nine in the United Arab Emirates, six each in Canada and Germany, and five in the United Kingdom. Others are spread across Europe, Australia, Portugal, Southeast Asia and a few other countries.
Statewide Crackdown Through Special Operations
The arrests come amid an intensified drive against overseas-based crime syndicates under a special campaign initially named Operation Prahaar, later rebranded as Gangstran Te Vaar. Police have mapped locations connected to nearly 1,200 associates of foreign-based gangsters, along with around 600 family members, who are suspected of facilitating criminal activities within Punjab.
Rewards and International Measures
The Punjab Police have announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of all 61 identified gangsters. Red-corner notices have already been issued against 21 of them. Officials said coordination with central agencies and international counterparts is ongoing to trace and extradite wanted individuals, including those believed to be operating from North America, Europe and neighbouring regions.