NIA moves to take over probe into dera follower’s murder

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the Faridkot police to take over investigation into the murder of Sirsa-based dera’s follower Pardeep Singh. He was allegedly shot dead by six assailants in his shop at Kotkapura in Faridkot on November 10, 2022.

Fugitive gangster Goldy Brar (believed to be settled in Canada) was nominated as key accused in the case.

The case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Act specifies special procedures for dealing with such activities and the NIA is empowered to investigate the case, sources in the police say.

Faridkot SSP Dr Pragya Jain declined to share any information about the case.

Pardeep Singh was an accused in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case. A day after his killing, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar had then claimed responsibility for the killing in a social media post. Brar is also the main accused in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.