Punjab Police have arrested the father of Shaganpreet Singh, a former associate of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, in connection with a shooting at the residence of singer Gulab Sidhu in Barnala district.
Saudagar Singh was arrested from the Khanna area on Friday, police said. Investigators have named both Saudagar Singh and his son Shaganpreet as accused in the case. Shaganpreet is currently believed to be outside India, while his father has been taken into custody as the investigation continues.
According to a report by The Hindustan Times, three masked men opened fire at Gulab Sidhu’s house in Farwahi village, Barnala district, during the night of 12-13 September. Gulab Sidhu was in Australia at the time of the incident. His parents, wife and children, however, were at home when the attack took place.
The attackers reportedly fired six rounds before fleeing the area. The incident prompted a police investigation into the identities of those involved and the possible motive behind the attack.
Barnala Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Goel confirmed Saudagar Singh’s arrest. Baljit Singh, an officer with the police’s Crime Investigation Agency, said Shaganpreet was currently abroad and that his father had been arrested from Khanna. Police said further details about Saudagar Singh’s alleged role would emerge as the investigation progresses.
The latest arrest follows the detention of six other people in connection with the case. Among them are Gurwinder Singh and Gurpiar Singh, who are suspected of being directly involved in the shooting. Police have alleged that others arrested in the case provided logistical support, including assistance with a vehicle, as well as support through social media.
Investigators have also reported recovering three pistols and magazines, 10 live rounds, five spent cartridges, an Ertiga vehicle and two unregistered motorcycles from those arrested. Police have said their investigation has uncovered a suspected extortion link involving gang members based overseas. According to the police, the accused were also allegedly planning another major criminal operation.
An audio recording subsequently circulated on social media, in which a person purportedly identified as gangster Donny Bal appeared to claim responsibility for the attack. The recording also contained allegations against Gulab Sidhu, including claims that he had used Moosewala’s name and maintained links with people allegedly connected to Moosewala’s killing. Police have not yet authenticated the recording, and the allegations contained in it remain unverified.
A case was initially registered at Barnala Sadar police station under provisions relating to attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, rioting with weapons and unlawful assembly. Investigators later added provisions relating to extortion and organised crime as the inquiry developed.
Gulab Sidhu is a recognised figure in the Punjabi music industry and has a substantial following on social media. He was also known to have been closely associated with Sidhu Moosewala, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Punjabi music.
Moosewala was shot dead in Mansa on 29 May 2022. His killing triggered a major criminal investigation and continued to draw attention to the links between sections of the Punjabi music industry and organised criminal networks. The latest case involving Gulab Sidhu has again brought questions surrounding those connections into focus, although the allegations and suspected links remain subject to police investigation and legal proceedings.
