In a chilling revelation made public on the birth anniversary of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar has confessed to orchestrating the singer’s 2022 murder.

Speaking in a six-hour exchange with the British media outlet, Brar said he had "no remorse whatsoever" for the brazen daylight assassination that stunned India and the global Punjabi diaspora.

On May 29, 2022, Moose Wala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was driving his black Mahindra Thar SUV through his native Mansa district when two vehicles intercepted and cornered him. Moments later, a volley of bullets—24 of which struck him—riddled the SUV. The 28-year-old singer was declared dead on arrival. His cousin and a friend, who were also in the vehicle, sustained injuries but survived.

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The murder, carried out barely a day after the Punjab government had downgraded Moose Wala’s security cover, sparked outrage across the country. Regarded as one of Punjab's most influential cultural icons, Moose Wala was admired for his unapologetic lyrics and commentary on social and political issues. His music had garnered billions of views online and earned him a devoted following in India and abroad.

"It was either him or us"

Speaking to the BBC, Brar offered a justification that was both cold and defiant. “In his arrogance, he made some mistakes that could not be forgiven,” he said. “It was either him or us. As simple as that.”

Brar, believed to be operating from Canada, is a close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. According to Brar, Moose Wala had fallen out of favour with the Bishnoi gang after promoting a kabaddi tournament allegedly linked to the rival Bambiha gang. Tensions escalated further after the killing of Bishnoi associate Vicky Middukhera in 2021—a murder Indian police linked to Moose Wala’s then-manager, Shaganpreet Singh. The latter fled India and is believed to be residing in Australia.

Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala shot dead in Mansa village a day after security cover curtailed - The Tribune

Although Moose Wala was never formally charged in the Middukhera case, Brar insisted that he played a complicit role. “Everyone knew Sidhu’s role,” he said. “Police, journalists, even politicians knew—yet no one acted. So we took it upon ourselves.”

"No faith in justice system"

Brar dismissed suggestions that Moose Wala’s murder was a bid for fame or financial gain, calling it an act of retribution. “Law, justice—there’s no such thing,” he said. “Only the powerful get justice in this country.”

He also cited frustration over what he described as a lack of legal recourse for victims like Middukhera. “Even his politically connected brother couldn’t get justice. I did what I had to do for my brother. I have no remorse whatsoever,” Brar added.

The interview aired on BBC on June 11—Moose Wala’s birth anniversary—and marks the first time Brar has publicly and explicitly justified his role in the killing.

Impact on gang networks

Journalists and law enforcement officials have warned that the killing, and Brar’s subsequent notoriety, has emboldened organised crime networks in northern India. “This is the biggest killing in decades in Punjab,” BBC journalist noted. “The gangsters’ capacity to extort has shot up significantly.”

The high-profile nature of the case, coupled with its unresolved legal outcome, has reportedly allowed the Bishnoi-Brar syndicate to expand its influence, particularly through extortion and digital threats targeting Indian businessmen and celebrities.

Since the murder, Indian police have arrested over 30 individuals connected to the case. Two of the six identified gunmen were killed in separate police encounters. The others remain in custody, but no trial has concluded.

Despite Brar’s confession, he remains beyond the reach of Indian authorities. His exact location remains unknown, though officials believe he continues to operate from Canada—a fact that has raised diplomatic concerns amid repeated calls for his extradition.

Sidhu Moose Wala’s killing continues to cast a long shadow over Punjab’s cultural landscape. A graduate of electrical engineering who pivoted to music, Moose Wala’s rise from rural Punjab to international stardom was seen as a rare success story. His music often addressed issues of identity, agrarian distress, and caste discrimination.

For many, his death symbolised the deepening nexus between crime, politics, and popular culture in the region.