Murder victim not suspect in killing of Punjabi rapper

California police dispell rumours around fugitive in death of Sidhu Moose Wala

Fugitive Brampton gangster Goldy Brar, wanted in the killing of a Punjabi rap star, has not been murdered in an alley in Fresno, Calif., contrary to widespread reports in Indian media and online.

A flurry of Indian media reports this week stated that Brar was murdered in a shootout. Some reports even quoted a reputed Indian gangster as claiming responsibility for the murder.

Then Fresno police released a photo of the shooting victim from the alley shooting, who was a 37year-old identified as Xavier Gladney. Within hours of Gladney’s death Tuesday, Fresno police had identified a suspect in his death.

“We received inquiries from around the world as a result of misinformation being spread on social media and online news agencies. We are not sure who started this rumour, but it caught on and has spread like wildfire,” Sgt. Diana Trueba Vega with the Fresno Police Department said.

“We can confirm the online chatter claiming that the shooting victim is ‘Goldy Brar’ is absolutely not true,” Vega said.

Meanwhile, Satinderjit Singh (Goldy) Brar, 31, remains on Canada’s most wanted fugitive list, wanted for numerous crimes, including the gangland murder of Punjabi rap star and politician Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, in the Punjab district on May 29, 2022.

At least eight people were arrested in Sidhu’s murder as police continued their search for a half-dozen more suspects, sparking calls for a public inquiry in India.

Brar is also known as Satwinder Singh Brar.

The false reporting that Brar had been murdered in California on Tuesday brought a headline in The Times of India that read, “Notorious Gangster Goldy Brar is Alive: US Cops.”

India.com reports, “Goldy Brar, Suspected Mastermind In Sidhu Moose Wala Murder, NOT DEAD, Is Alive: USA Police.”

The Fresno Bee’s headline read, “Gang ties believed to be responsible in Fresno killing. Cops debunk rumors of India case.”

Brar was ranked 15th on Canada’s most wanted list in 2023, accused of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons trafficking.

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs accused Brar of being a member of the outlawed Babar-Khalsa terrorist group.

Brar came to Canada on a student visa in 2017.

He was considered the successor to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, another former Toronto resident who is in prison in India on an assortment of organized crime convictions.

“They’re all Toronto guys,” the former gangster said. “Toronto’s complicated.”

Moose Wala was shot dead after he refused to make extortion payments, or “tax,” the former Canadian gangster said.

Toronto has a number of aligned groups, who maintain a strong connection with British Columbia, the former gangster said.