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Threat call by Canada gangster: SAD candidate’s daughter arrested

The arrest, which sparked allegations of political vendetta from the Akali leadership, stems from an FIR registered at Jhabal police station during the bypoll period against Amritpal Singh Bath, a Canada-based gangster.

Threat call by Canada gangster: SAD candidate’s daughter arrestedKanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of SAD leader Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa who unsuccessfully contested the Nov 11 bypoll.

The Punjab Police Friday arrested Kanchanpreet Kaur, the daughter of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa who unsuccessfully contested the November 11 Tarn Taran bypoll, following an extensive interrogation

The arrest, which sparked allegations of political vendetta from the Akali leadership, stems from an FIR registered at Jhabal police station during the bypoll period against Amritpal Singh Bath, a Canada-based gangster.

During the bypoll, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann, without naming Bath, had accused Akali Dal of “giving ticket to a gangster’s mother-in-law”. State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring had alleged that Bath is Randhawa’s son-in-law. Randhawa has three daughters, but only Kanchanpreet was active in her campaign. On her part, Kanchanpreet has neither confirmed nor denied any family link to Bath.

Sources said that Kanchanpreet arrived at the Majitha police station around noon, reportedly in response to a summons regarding a passport-related inquiry and existing cases. Kanchanpreet had already secured bail in three other cases registered against her during election period.

After about six hours of questioning, police formally detained her at 5:30 pm. The arrest was executed under FIR No. 208, which includes charges under sections 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 351(3) (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), and 111 (organized crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the official ground of arrest provided to her, the police told Kanchanpreet that there were allegations that she collaborated with Bath to engage in organised criminal activities and intimidate voters and complainants during the Tarn Taran bypoll. The document further claims she could threaten witnesses and posed a risk of tampering with evidence, such as mobile phones and laptops. Authorities also noted that she allegedly entered India illegally without proper immigration checks.

On November 11, Jhabal police registered a case against Bath for allegedly making a WhatsApp call to a voter, threatening him, and pressuring him to vote for the Akali Dal in the Tarn Taran bypoll.

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Gurmeet Kaur, wife of Narinder Singh, resident of Padhri Kalan, had alleged that he received a WhatsApp call in which the caller said, “I am Amritpal Bath speaking, you must vote for Shiromani Akali Dal; if you don’t, we know other ways to get votes cast.”

Kanchanpreet was nominated in this FIR on Friday. At least four such FIRs were registered against Bath during the bypoll. AAP’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu won the election.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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