4 min readMay 6, 2026 01:41 PM IST
First published on: May 6, 2026 at 01:35 PM IST
An encrypted messaging application, Zangi, was allegedly used to facilitate communication between the accused in the murder of 31-year-old property dealer Chamanpreet Singh alias Chinni Kubaheri, the Chandigarh Police has learnt.
Chamanpreet was murdered in Chandigarh’s VIP locality of Sector 9 on March 18 while sitting in his SUV after exiting a gym. So far, the police have arrested six people in the case, including the alleged conspirator, Amreen Kaur.
Police sources said the case, initially suspected to be linked to gang rivalry, has now been found to be a contract killing allegedly arising out of a property dispute.
According to police sources, Amreen allegedly hatched the conspiracy and engaged the services of gangster Lucky Patial for the killing. They added that during the planning phase, all communication between Amreen and Patial was facilitated through calls arranged by the shooter, Rajan alias Piyush.
“He would connect the two through conference calls or speaker mode, and in the process, overhear their conversations,” a senior police officer privy to the investigation said, adding that these disclosures became a key lead in identifying the alleged conspirator.
Sources said that the accused relied on Zangi, an internet-based calling and messaging platform known for end-to-end encryption and minimal data storage, to avoid detection. “The use of such platforms makes retrieval of evidence more complex, but efforts are on to extract relevant data,” the police official said.
According to the police, Amreen’s arrest was based on statements made by property dealer and co-accused Harshpreet Singh and shooter Rajan. Harshpreet is alleged to have acted as an intermediary, facilitating initial contact between the accused. He was produced before a local court on Tuesday, where the police obtained a one-day remand.
The police are now checking Amreen’s mobile phone and other electronic devices to trace chats, call logs, and any digital footprint that could corroborate the statements of the co-accused. A forensic examination of the devices is also being considered.
Police officials said Harshpreet’s custodial interrogation is intended to confront him with Amreen, already in custody, to establish the sequence of events and verify each accused’s role.
Multiple attempts before the final hit
The police said the shooters made at least eight unsuccessful attempts to kill Chamanpreet before succeeding. Surveillance was carried out near a gym in Sector 9 on January 23, 24, 25 and 26, but the target managed to evade them each time, the police added.
Further attempts were made three to four times in March, and reconnaissance was also conducted at his office in New Chandigarh’s Nagra Estate, but the assailants failed to find an opportunity.
The murder was eventually carried out on the ninth attempt.
Property dispute the likely motive
According to the police, the motive behind the killing was a dispute over an eight-acre land deal in New Chandigarh. Chamanpreet had allegedly facilitated the deal for Amreen at a rate of Rs 1.75 crore per acre, for which she paid around Rs 4 crore as an advance. Police sources said Amreen later felt she had been overcharged and also did not receive possession of the land, leading to a dispute.
Chandigarh property dealer Chamanpreet Singh was murdered in the VIP locality of Sector 9 on March 18 after exiting a gym. The motive was an alleged dispute over an eight-acre property in New Chandigarh. (Express Photo) 
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