Moose Wala made unforgivable mistakes: Goldy Brar on hip-hop star's murder
Gangster Goldy Brar has spoken out about the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, three years after the artiste was gunned down in broad daylight. In an interview with the BBC World Service, Brar justified the killing, saying Moose Wala had committed "unforgivable" mistakes."In his arrogance, he [Moose Wala] made some mistakes that could not be forgiven," Brar told BBC Eye. "We had no option but to kill him. He had to face the consequences of his actions. It was either him or us. As simple as that."advertisementThe BBC released a two-part documentary series, coinciding with the singer's birth anniversary on June 11. The documentary, which includes an audio interview with Brar, delves into Moose Wala's life, controversies, and the circumstances surrounding his assassination. However, the documentary's release has sparked controversy, with Moose Wala's family moving court to halt its screening.
Sidhu Moose Wala was fatally shot on May 29, 2022, in Punjab's Mansa district while driving his black Mahindra Thar SUV. CCTV footage showed two cars tailing him before one vehicle cornered his SUV. Moose Wala was hit by 24 bullets and declared dead on arrival at the hospital. A cousin and a friend accompanying him were injured but survived.Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the murder via a Facebook post hours after the killing. Although believed to be in Canada at the time, Brar has evaded arrest, and no one has been brought to trial so far.advertisementIn the BBC interview, which unfolded over a six-hour exchange of voice notes, Brar gave a detailed account of his alleged grievances against the late singer.He claimed Moose Wala had promoted a kabbadi tournament organised by the rival Bambiha gang, sparking tensions with Bishnoi's syndicate. Although an associate, Vicky Middukhera, later mediated a truce, his subsequent murder in August 2021 reignited hostilities.Brar alleged that Moose Wala's friend and former manager, Shaganpreet Singh, helped orchestrate Middukhera's murder. Singh later fled India and is reportedly in Australia. Though Punjab Police said there is no evidence linking Moose Wala to gang activities, Brar remains convinced of his complicity."Everyone knew Sidhu's role, the police investigating knew, even the journalists who were investigating knew. Sidhu mixed with politicians and people in power. He was using political power, money, his resources to help our rivals," Brar told the BBC."We wanted him to face punishment for what he'd done. He should have been booked. He should have been jailed. But nobody listened to our plea. So we took it upon ourselves. When decency falls on deaf ears, it's the gunshot that gets heard."When asked about bypassing the legal system, Brar said, "Law. Justice. There's no such thing. Only the powerful can... [obtain] justice, not ordinary people like us."advertisementBrar also denied that extortion was the motive behind the killing but acknowledged that it is central to how gangs operate. "We have to look after hundreds or even thousands of people who are like family to us. We have to extort people. To get money, we have to be feared."The BBC documentary features interviews with Moose Wala's old friends, journalists, and senior police officers from Punjab and Delhi. Initially scheduled for a private screening in Mumbai, it was later uploaded to YouTube following public backlash and legal objections from the singer's family.Moose Wala's father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, has filed a police complaint seeking a ban on the documentary. In his complaint to Maharashtra's DGP and Mumbai's Juhu Police Station, he alleged that the BBC documentary was an attempt to tarnish his son's legacy.He claimed that the film, which features individuals named in the FIR related to Moose Wala's murder, was released without the family's consent and could misrepresent facts.Speaking to India Today, Balkaur Singh confirmed that the family objected to the release and would soon approach the High Court after filing a petition in the Mansa court. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on June 12.advertisementPunjab-based journalist Ritesh Lakhi described Moose Wala's killing as "the biggest" in decades and said it had emboldened extortion rackets. "The capacity of gangsters to extort money has gone up. [Goldy Brar]'s getting huge sums of money after killing Moose Wala.""The fear factor around gangsters has risen amongst the public. It's not just people in the music and film industry who are being extorted - even local businessmen are receiving calls," BBC quoted Deputy Editor of The Tribune, Jupinderjit Singh, as saying.Sidhu Moose Wala rose to global fame for his raw lyrics that touched on gang culture, political disillusionment, and Punjabi identity. With over five billion YouTube views, collaborations with international artists like Burna Boy, and a top-five UK chart spot, he became a symbol of pride for many in the Punjabi diaspora.Despite the accusations, police have reiterated that Moose Wala had no known ties to criminal gangs and denied any conclusive evidence linking him to the killing of Middukhera.Trending Reel
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Smol pleasures: Why miniature thalis, sofas and paintings are big business
Small is huge right now. Instagram Reels are zooming in on thalis no bigger than your little finger, laden with tiny rotis, veggie bowls, a cute papad and a mound of rice. Someone's handpainting model-train compartments the size of an eraser. Matchbox-sized wardrobes open up to contain five of Carrie Bradshaw's iconic looks, down to the Choos. Like. Like. Like. What began as a niche COVID-time hobby for craft-loving folks is now a thriving little business too. Miniature collectibles, especially food, are showing up as fridge magnets, wedding favours, pooja offerings and personalised presents for the besties. At 18th birthday parties, mini versions of the cake are turning into 'keep-cake' keychains. Artists work within a strict size range — five to seven centimetres — small enough to feel delicate, not so tiny that the details are lost. It's driven by precision and intention, everything must look cute. You don't need a psychology class to remind you that miniaturised bits of real life — model trains, Lego sets, architectural models, Barbie's Dreamhouse, even bobbleheads — tap into our sense of control. Items and ideas that are too much to take in at full scale are easier to process when they're shrunk down. Plus, in an age when we're filming everything, mini versions of the familiar are that much easier to like. It's why Chennai-based Sudha and Neha Chandranarayan's videos (@CNArts_Miniatures) of their handmade clay micro Maggi noodles has quietly amassed 39.6 million views. And the money coming in? Not so little. Minis to the max Sudha Chandranarayan, 55, spent more than three decades in traditional crafts. She's picked up mural work, doll-making and other painting styles while moving through Mumbai, Indore and Porbandar. 'Everywhere we lived, my mom absorbed the local art forms like a sponge,' says her daughter Neha, 25, who works alongside her. About 20 years ago, Chandranarayan discovered clay miniatures. 'She began sculpting tiny plants, birds, animals, even people, all by hand.' They ran workshops, passing on their techniques in an era before fancy art-supply shops and 10-minute delivery apps. 'We use air-dry clay, and back in the day, we had a relative bring it back to us from Thailand,' Chandranarayan says. Now, materials are readily available and the daughter puts up videos featuring prep, process, BTS and final product on social media. 'It's how we market, connect and get inspired by other artists.' Their keychains, magnets and earrings start at ₹499, on their website In Mumbai, Sailee Samel, 35, who runs The Yellow Brush (@TheYellowBrushh) works with polymer clay to create vada pao carts, vintage bakery nooks and chai tapris. It's 'like roti dough, just more refined,' she says. It comes in different colours, which reduces painting time, and gives miniatures a crack-free, stone-like texture when baked, 'but I have to import it in bulk from the US,' Samel says. It drives up costs. Polymer clay is four times the price of the air-dry version. Add the cost of workmanship, and a little banana-leaf platter can cost as much as ₹1,999. But customers love it. Her biggest order: A miniature collector who happily shelled out ₹1 lakh for 50 handcrafted pieces. Sourcing is just the first step. The real test lies in recreating a complex object, say, a South Indian thali, in miniature. Chandranarayan's version includes over 15 individual foods, all crafted by hand. 'Just the rice takes 8 to 10 hours, we stick together nearly 300 tiny grains,' she says. Observing the real thing is a big part of the prep. 'We study how gravies settle, how oil pools on curry.' After all, even if it's morsel-sized, the thali must look good enough to eat. Shrink wrap Everything, it seems, is making money when miniaturised. In 2020, Nagpur-based interior designer Ishani Umre, 29, owner of The Miniature Co. (@The_Miniature_Co), fell down a Pinterest rabbit hole and emerged obsessed with tiny furniture. Her first piece, a replica of her house, wasn't perfect, but she was hooked. She began taking on custom mini-teriors — a child's exact bedroom by a mom, someone's wedding venue, a home preserved in old photos. It's carpentered like the real thing. Sofas are upholstered with real fabric, cushions stuffed with cotton or rice, the plumbing in the little kitchens works, cabinets have working drawers. She uses foam board, balsa, polish, paints, even 3D-printed parts. 'I can't reuse anything. Your bed has to be your bed,' she says. A single piece can take 15 to 20 days, but clients, largely those looking to preserve a memory, don't mind the wait. They don't mind paying between ₹8,000 and ₹40,000 either. Umre says she's not selling objects but 'emotional storytelling in 1:16 scale'. Noida resident Meghna Roy, 36, switched from law to crafts (@Ashnalia_By_Meghna) but faced challenges selling her handmade greeting cards and bookmarks until she added tiny hand-painted artworks — Van Gogh's Starry Night, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, down to the gilded vintage frames — to her repertoire in March. One customer bought 20 mini paintings in a single order. 'You'd think tiny means quick,' she says, 'but each painting takes four to five hours. The detail demands patience.' Nostalgia and storytelling, drive much of the sales. One of CN Arts Miniatures' customers gifted a platter of pao bhaji, curd rice and idlis to her husband stationed abroad: 'It was like sending him a piece of home'. Their bestseller is their crispy dosa — they've sold 3,000 of them worldwide. Despite demand, they cap production at 150 pieces a month to stick to handmade, precise in-house work. Umre's viral Reels push website sales. Her mini cabinets and lamps sell the best. It's like holding a memory in your hand. AI can't compete yet. From HT Brunch, June 14, 2025 Follow us on .
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Sunjay Kapur's first wife Nandita Mahtani? Dated Ranbir Kapoor, almost married Vidyut Jammwal, is Virat's stylist
The death of industrialist Sunjay Kapur at 53 sent shockwaves not just in the corporate world, but stunnned showbiz as well. Sunjay was married thrice - all to women from showbiz. While his marriages to actor Karisma Kapoor and model Priya Chatwal are well known, Sunjay was first married to fashion designer and socialite Nandita Mahtani in the 90s. Nandita Mahtani, a Delhi-based socialite, and Sunjay, married in 1996. Nandita hails from a business family. Her brother Bharat is a businessman, whose wedding in 2010 was attended by everyone from Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai to Karan Johar and Harsh Goenka. Her sister Anu is married to billionaire Sanjay Hinduja. Nandita and Sunjay Kapoor were married for just four years in the 90s. They split in 2000, when their divorce was finalised. Nandita, a known fashion designer, was known in Mumbai circles as a socialite. As per reports, she dated Dino Morea in the 2000s, and runs a fashion brand called Playground with him. She briefly went out with Ranbir Kapoor, Karisma's cousin, as well. In a 2017 interview with The Quint, Ranbir said, 'All I can say is that while growing up, I was infatuated with her. I found her beautiful, simple and warm, so unlike the socialite she is made out to be. We went out for dinners, it was nothing serious. Mum knew I had a crush on her.' In 2017, Nandita got engaged to actor Vidyut Jammwal. The two made their relationship public on Instagram, with glimpses of a dreamy proposal at the Taj Mahal. However, the two later split. A post shared by Nandita Mahtani (@nanditamahtani) Since 2012, Nandita has been stylist for many Bollywood celebs, and more notably for cricketer Virat Kohli. In a 2019 interview with ET Panache, Nandita had said, 'Virat has an impeccable style, which stems from his inherent strong personality. He prefers a sporty casual look, but he does enjoy an occasional dress up. His style is mostly refined and minimalistic.' 53-year-old Sunjay Kapur died in London on Thursday, hours after he swallowed a bee during a polo match, business consultant Suhel Seth told ANI. Sunjay was married to Karisma from 2003 to 2016. The couple has a daughter, Samaira, born on 11 March 2005 and a son, Kiaan, born on 12 March 2011. In 2014, they filed for divorce, which was finalised in 2016. Sunjay married Priya Sachdev the following year. Priya and Sunjay are parents to a son, Azarias.
Indian Express
40 minutes ago
- Indian Express
AAP councillor's son gets extortion call: ‘Give Rs 1 cr or will kill you, your family'
The son of an AAP councillor in Ludhiana allegedly received an extortion call and the unidentified killer threatened to kill him and his family if he fails to pay Rs 1 crore ransom. The Ludhiana Police registered an FIR on the complaint of Gurpreet Bedi, son of AAP councillor Veeran Bedi from ward number 57. Gurpreet told police that on June 5, he received a WhatsApp call from an international number. The caller threatened to kill him and his family if he failed to pay Rs 1 crore as ransom, he said. 'I was shocked as the caller, who spoke fluent Punjabi, knew my every detail. He said he knows everything about me that what time I go for work and when I return home. Initially, I suspected some of my own employees but later we got to know that it wasn't them. It's an international number and the caller was seemingly under the influence of some drugs,' Gurpreet said. An FIR under the sections 308 (2) (extortion) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) of BNS has been registered with the Sarabha Nagar police. The number from which the call came has been sent to Cyber cell for identification.
