Firing at businessman’s residence: NIA court seeks jail officer’s explanation over shifting accused to Hoshiarpur observation home

As the matter came up for a hearing before special NIA Judge Alka Malik, all accused were produced before the court as the case was fixed for the prosecution evidence.

However, one of the accused Kamaldeep Singh, alias Kamalpreet Singh, was not produced by the jail authority, rather a copy of a letter from the Additional Superintendent, Model Jail, Chandigarh, addressed to the Superintendent, Special Home, Hoshiarpur, was submitted, mentioning the Kamaldeep was shifted to the observation home in Hoshiarpur.

The court, on perusing the records of the case, said, “Kamaldeep Singh is an accused facing trial before this court and was lodged in Burail Jail under the orders of this court. Therefore, let the explanation of the Additional Superintendent, Model Jail, Chandigarh, be called for April 25 as to under what circumstances, he was shifted without permission from this court, which has resulted in a delay in the trial of the instant case.”

The court also issued fresh non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against accused Satwinder Singh, alias Satwinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, and Gurpreet, alias Goldy Dhillon, with a request for issuance of proclamation order as their NBWs are received unexecuted since they absconding.

“NIA should make more efforts for the arrest of these accused and, therefore, fresh open NBWs be again issued for arresting these accused,” said the court.

The incident took place on January 19, 2024, when associates of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar fired shots at a businessman’s house in Sector 5, Chandigarh, with one bullet striking a parked car.

According to the NIA investigation, Brar’s associates had been targeting affluent businessmen across Punjab, Chandigarh, and beyond for extortion, resorting to violence or threats if demands were not met.

Till date, eight individuals — Gurwinder Singh Laddy, Kashi Singh, Shubham Kumar Giri, Amritpal Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Prem Singh, Sarbjeet Singh and Gagandeep Singh— have been arrested in connection with the case. Only Canada-based Goldy Brar and Goldy Dhillon remain at large.