Moose Wala murder suspect tied to Goldy Brar extortion syndicate.

Ludhiana: An incarcerated Rajasthan criminal linked to the 2022 assassination of Punjab rapper Shubhdeep Singh ‘Sidhu Moose Wala' has been identified as a key operative in a sophisticated interstate extortion racket run from behind bars.Arshad Khan, a native of Rajasthan's Churu district, was brought to Ludhiana on a production warrant from Ferozepur Jail this week. Police allege Khan acted as a middleman for the notorious Goldy Brar gang, coordinating a "hit squad" to terrorise a local businessman who refused to pay a Rs 50 lakh extortion demand. The investigation marks a significant breakthrough in dismantling the operational link between jailed high-profile criminals and street-level shooters.The Civil City ShootoutThe case stems from a Jan 5 incident in which three assailants opened fire on a garment shop in Ludhiana's Civil City. The owner, Himanshu Handa, had previously ignored a WhatsApp extortion threat from Mahendra Dhalana, a close aide of Rajasthan gangster Rohit Godara.Deputy commissioner of police (investigation) Harpal Singh has claimed that the three shooters — identified as Sumit Kumar, 19, Sumit ‘Altron', 21, and Sanju, 19 — were apprehended following a Jan 12 encounter in the Ladian-Jassian area. "During interrogation, the shooters revealed that Arshad Khan had assigned them the task of firing at Handa's shop to intimidate him after he had ignored the gang's demands," DCP Harpal Singh said.A History of ViolenceArshad Khan is no stranger to high-stakes crime. He was arrested originally for supplying the Mahindra Bolero SUV used by the shooters to intercept and kill Shubhdeep Singh, better known as Sidhu Moose Wala, in May 2022. Furthermore, police confirmed Khan's involvement in the 2023 Goindwala Jail riot, a violent internecine clash that resulted in the deaths of two other Moose Wala murder suspects, Mandeep Singh Toofan and Manmohan Singh.The Jail ConnectionThe probe has highlighted a "worrisome" trend of incarcerated gangsters' managing active criminal networks. Investigators say Arshad Khan and fellow inmate Shubham Grover acted as coordinators, connecting top-tier leadership like Goldy Brar with local recruits.A senior official said: "The aides of Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar are working in tandem across Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana. The most concerning aspect is the jail connection. Inmates are not just luring youth with money; they are promising to handle their legal fees and support their families, creating a loyal network of foot soldiers from within their cells." MSID:: 126682339 413 |