BATHINDA: Bathinda court on Tuesday sent the parents of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar to police remand till January 31 in connection with a ransom and death threat case registered in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
Shamsher Singh and his wife Preetpal Kaur were produced before the court amid tight security after being arrested by Punjab Police on Monday. The police had sought their custody for further interrogation, citing the need to probe the money trail, their alleged links with organised crime networks, and their role in facilitating ransom-related activities.
The case dates back to November 27, 2024, when a resident of Udhekaran village in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, working in the education department for the past 33 years, received a WhatsApp call from a foreign mobile number while on official duty at a school. The caller allegedly identified himself as a member of the Bambiha gang and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh.
According to the complaint, the caller threatened to kill the complainant and his family if the demand was not met and claimed to have detailed information about his family members and residence on Kotkapura Road. The complainant further alleged that he received several similar threatening calls throughout the day, leaving him in a state of fear and distress.
The victim stated that on December 3, 2024, he again received a WhatsApp call from the same foreign number while travelling from his village to his workplace. Out of fear, he did not answer the call and later approached the Sadar Police Station, Sri Muktsar Sahib, along with his brother, seeking strict legal action against the unknown caller.
Following the complaint, police registered an FIR on December 3, 2024, under Sections 308(4), 351(1) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, the police traced the money trail and other inputs which allegedly linked the accused to gangster Goldy Brar.
Sri Muktsar Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhimanyu Rana had earlier said that at the time of registration of the FIR, Goldy Brar and the Bambiha gang were working together. He also stated that the accused were allegedly living off money generated through ransom and had no legitimate source of income.
The police arrested the couple from Amritsar, where they were staying at a hotel near Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). Investigators now plan to question them in detail to ascertain their alleged role in the extortion racket and to identify other persons involved.
The court, after hearing the police plea, granted remand till January 31 to facilitate further investigation.