2 charged over car park killing of restaurant owner in 1993
Swoop takes total held over death to 3
TWO more men have been charged over the murder of a Scots restaurant owner nearly 25 years ago.
Detectives probing the death of Ansar Shah in Ayrshire on October 4, 1993, arrested a 53-year-old in London and a 59-year-old in Ayrshire – four months after the arrest of a third man, a 51-year-old in Germany.
Ansar, 36, owner of Armaan Brasserie Indian restaurant, was stabbed in a nearby car park on Ayr seafront.
At the time of his death, he had two young children and his wife Linda was heavily pregnant with their third.
He was a partner in the popular Armaan, which later became Ayr India.
The latest arrests came after an operation led by Police Scotland’s homicide governance and review team.
The suspects are expected to appear in court in the coming days.
Jagtar Singh, 51, appeared in court earlier this week after being arrested in Frankfurt in November over Ansar’s death.
Singh, from Romans-surIsère in south-east France, made no plea or declaration during a private hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court that month and was committed for further examination. He appeared again at the High Court in Glasgow this week, where prosecutors claimed Ansar was struck on the body with a knife or a similar item, and was also kicked.
Singh was arrested under a European arrest warrant and transferred to Scotland.
Police Scotland, the Crown Office and the UK National Crime Agency were involved in the operation, also assisted by Europol and French and German authorities.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bell of the homicide governance review team said at the time Police Scotland were “committed to pursuing those persons who are allegedly responsible for the gravest of crimes”.
He said: “Time and location is no barrier to the efforts and determination of our staff and partners to pursue justice for victims.”
Police said: “Inquiries are ongoing.”