Just about three months after Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was gunned down, the Mansa police on Friday filed a detailed 1850-page charge sheet against 24 masterminds and shooters, including alleged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his Canada-based close associate Goldy Brar, who had initially claimed responsibility for the murder. As of now, the police have booked a total of 36 persons in the case.
The filing of the chargesheet came days after the slain Punjabi singer’s parents opened a front against the State Government expressing unhappiness with the probe in Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case and setting a deadline. Moosewala’s mother, Charan Kaur, had even threatened to launch a massive protest.
Only a day before, thousands of people joined Moosewala’s parents in a candle march from Moosa village till Jawaharke village — the place where the famous Punjabi singer was murdered on May 29. Moosewala’s parents are demanding setting up a commission to investigate the issue of security cover withdrawal; bringing gangsters such as Goldy Brar to India to face investigation probe; and a probe into the alleged link between the Punjabi film industry and gangsters.
Out of the total 24 named in the chargesheet, 20 accused have already been arrested. They included dreaded gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria — currently in Punjab police’s custody; Sandeep Singh Kekra — who conducted Sidhu Moosewala’s recce on the day of killing; Priyavrat Fauji, Ankit Sersa, Keshav Kumar — all three main shooters; gangsters Saraj Mintoo, Manpreet Singh Manna, Manpreet Bhao, Prabhdeep Singh Babbi, Baldev Singh, Pawan Bishnoi, Manu Dagar, Naseeb, Charanjit Singh Chetan, Manmohan Mohna, Kashish, Deepak, Sachin Bhiwani, and Arshad Khan — who acted as facilitators.
The chargesheet, filed in the Mansa local court, also included the names of two shooters — Jagroop Roopa and Manpreet Manna — who were killed in the police encounter in Amritsar recently.
While Lawrence Bishnoi is currently in Punjab police’s custody, his close associate Goldy Brar — believed to be residing in Canada at present — is still absconding. Apart from Goldy Brar, the police have also included the names of Sachin Thapan, Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol Bishnoi, and Lipin Nehra — believed to be hiding abroad.
In all, the police have cited total of 122 witnesses, including eyewitnesses, friends present with Moosewala at the time of the murder, doctors who performed the post-mortem, and staff of the hotel where the shooters stayed, among others.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing Moosewala’s murder, is led by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Anti-Gangster Task Force chief Pramod Ban.
Ban has said that Bishnoi, who is named as the main conspirator, had confessed that the execution planning was hatched in August the previous year to avenge youth Akali leader Vicky Middukhera’s murder.
Mansa SSP Gaurav Toora, sharing details of the chargesheet, informed that total 36 accused were booked in this case, out of which, 20 accused have been arrested so far and four accused are sitting abroad. “The charge sheet filed today is against these 24 accused. Apart from this, Jagroop Roopa and Manpreet Manu Kussa have been killed in the police encounter, and the Court has been informed about their death,” he added.
SSP Toora said that eight accused in this case are still absconding. “The police will soon file a supplementary challan against the remaining accused,” he added.
The SSP said that the challan of gangsters, believed to be residing abroad, has been given in the court, and the process of their extradition will be started soon. “This process could only be done after submission of challan in the court. Now, the Punjab Police and the Indian Government will work together on their extradition swiftly,” he said.
“The police has, so far, recovered seven pistols, including two .32 bore, two .30 bore, one 315 bore, and two 9 mm pistol, besides seven mobiles and four vehicles from the accused,” said the SSP, adding that two pistols including — AK47 and Glock — used in Moosewala's murder have also been recovered from Manu Kussa and Roopa killed during the encounter.