Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar – the alleged mastermind behind the 29 May murder of singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala – has been detained in the United States, sources
He was caught by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in California, they added.
A person in the know told news agency“We have information that he was detained in Union City, California. He had been on the move. It is still not clear if he has been placed under arrest or made to wear a collar for electronic tagging and let-off.”
Brar, who claimed responsibility for Moose Wala’s death in a Facebook post, was also associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi group, sources said.
The post, written in Punjabi, said the murder was to avenge the killings of Goldy’s cousin Gurlal Brar and an Akali leader Vikramjit Singh “Vicky” Middukhera. They suspected Moose Wala helped members of the Bambiha gang to carry out these murders.
The source said it was unclear if Brar was travelling in California under his own name and passport or under someone else’s identity. The source said: “Talks to assess his status in the US are on. If he was there under some other identity, then he will be deported, else we will move the process of extradition once his arrest is made official. We are also not clear if he has applied for asylum,” adding, “In both scenarios, it will be a time-consuming exercise.”
The development came a day after Moose Wala’s father Balkaur Singh, during his visit to the Golden Temple, announced a Rs 2-crore reward for anyone who could help nab Goldy Brar. He also said he would sell his land to pay the informer.
“Our government should also announce Rs 2 crore on Goldy Brar. If they don’t have the money, I will sell my land to pay the informer. Goldy Brar should be here. We wanted to see Lawrence Bishnoi walking as a criminal, not a VIP. Taxpayers are paying for the security of these criminals. I am willing to pay Rs 2 crore to the government. I will fight against these gangsters till my last breath to get justice for my son,” Singh said.
Brar has also claimed responsibility for the death of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Pradeep Singh, an accused in the Bargari “sacrilege case”.
Satinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, is from Muktsar, Punjab, the police said. He travelled to Canada on a student visa in 2017.
The Punjab Police took out a lookout notice against Brar after his involvement in the Moose Wala murder was established. A “Red Corner Notice” was also issued in his name.
In September, the Delhi Police Special Cell registered two cases against gangsters of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Bambiha gangs, under UAPA in which Goldy Brar was also named.