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Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Batala businessman jailed after faking attack, extortion to get police protection
Batala: In a plot straight out of a Bollywood thriller, a wealthy Batala businessman's audacious plan to secure police protection backfired, landing him in jail. The businessman not only orchestrated a fake attack on himself, but also fabricated a claim by a fake gangster on social media to deceive the police, mimicking the recent attacks on the police posts where gangsters took the Singh alias Vicky, the owner of glitzy 'Fashion London' showroom and a resident of New Top City Colony, Batala, had complained to the police about receiving multiple extortion calls demanding Rs 50 lakh, allegedly from gangster Dharma the evening of April 29, unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants fired shots at the shutter of his showroom. Vicky survived the attack, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir informed on Monday. Meanwhile, a Facebook user under the name 'Dharma Sandhu' claimed responsibility for the attack, adding an unexpected twist to the further details, the SSP informed that investigations uncovered a conspiracy involving Varinder Singh, the showroom owner, his UK-based relative Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha, and their associate Vishaldeep Singh, a Canada resident originally from Bhinder village. Together, they hatched a plan to stage a fake extortion and attack in order to convince the police to provide Varinder Singh with security execute the staged shooting, Vishaldeep arranged for a shooting module comprising three persons – Rajbir Singh, a resident of Amritsar; and Balwinder Singh alias Rahul Sekhon and Sukhsahijpreet Singh, both residents of Tarn Taran. The shooting module was promised Rs 50,000 for the job, said the .32 bore pistol used in the staged attack was arranged by Vishaldeep, allegedly sourced from an unidentified youth near Golden Gate, Amritsar, the police to the investigations, Varinder Singh intentionally kept his showroom open that night to ensure the plan went smoothly. Communication records further revealed that Vishaldeep was in constant touch with the shooters, even calling to tell them that Varinder was waiting outside the showroom, said the 9:48 pm, shots were fired at the shutter of the showroom — the climax of the staged attack, he said. However, the investigations revealed that the shooters received only Rs 3,500 of the promised Rs 50, informed that the extortion call Varinder Singh reported, supposedly from gangster Dharma Sandhu, was actually made by his UK-based relative, Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha, using Sandhu's name and ID. Following the staged incident, Varinder sent Rs 26,000 worth of clothing to Ranjodh and paid Rs 12,000 in courier charges — a payment for orchestrating the the trio of shooters, police have arrested Vicky, the showroom owner, and Gurpreet Singh and Gurmej Singh, said the 121110465 413 |
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Indian Express
To get police protection, Punjab showroom owner stages shooting
The Batala Police in Punjab have uncovered a fabricated extortion and firing incident orchestrated by a local showroom owner. Suhail Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Monday said Varinder Singh alias Vicky, the owner of the Fashion London showroom and a resident of New Top City Colony, Batala, reported receiving an extortion call demanding Rs 50 lakh on April 29. Varinder Singh allegedly claimed that the threats were issued by gangster Dharma Sandhu. 'Later that evening, shots were fired at the shutter of his showroom by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants. A Facebook ID named 'Dharma Sandhu' also claimed responsibility for the attack,' added SSP Mir. Thereafter, a first information report was registered at City Police Station, Batala, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. However, after a week-long investigation, officials found the attack had been staged. 'Varinder Singh conspired with his UK-based relative Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha and their associate Vishaldeep Singh, a Canada-based resident originally from Bhinder village,' SSP Mir said. 'Their plan was to simulate a threat scenario that would pressure authorities to grant Varinder Singh police protection,' he added. According to the police, Vishaldeep Singh hired three locals – Rajbir Singh, Balwinder Singh, and Sukhsahijpreet Singh – to fire at the showroom. They said each shooter was promised Rs 50,000 for the task, but only Rs 3,500 was paid after the shooting. The .32 bore pistol used in the incident was allegedly sourced by Vishaldeep Singh from an unidentified person near Golden Gate, Amritsar. Communication records confirmed that Vishaldeep Singh coordinated with the shooters on the day of the incident. 'At around 9.48 pm, they fired shots at the shutter of the showroom while Varinder Singh deliberately kept the premises open,' the police said. It was also revealed that the extortion call, supposedly made by gangster Dharma Sandhu, originated from Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha. After the staged attack, Varinder Singh reportedly sent Rs 26,000 worth of clothing to Ranjodh Singh and paid Rs 12,000 in courier charges. SSP Mir said Varinder Singh had a history of similar activities. 'He was also named in FIR No. 28 dated 03.03.2022 at City PS Batala, where a fake extortion demand of Rs 35 lakh was linked to gangster Mandeep Singh Tofan. That case was closed after Tofan's death,' he added.
