Punjabi Singer, Aide Of Slain Gangster, Arrested For Running Extortion Racket

Police have recovered two Chinese pistols, three magazines, 50 live cartridges and four 9mm pistol magazines from Sohal's possession.

Sohal, who was involved in the murder of two ASIs in Ludhiana, was absconding from that day. (Representative Image)

New Delhi: A Punjabi singer, said to be a close associate of slain gangster Jaipal Bhullar, was arrested for alleged involvement in an extortion racket, police said on Friday.

According to a report by news agency PTI, Harbir Singh Sohal, who has recorded some Punjabi songs, was allegedly involved in an extortion racket run from Australia and Canada, police said.

As per police officials, Sohal and his aide, Amritpal Singh alias Satta, used to collect money after their handlers in Australia and Canada made extortion calls to people in Punjab.

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Police, at a press conference on Friday, said that Sohal, who was involved in the murder of two Assistant Sub-inspectors (ASIs) in Ludhiana, was absconding from that day.

Mohan Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vivek Sheel Soni said that police received a tip-off that Sohal and Singh were hiding in Kharar and based on the input, they conducted a raid during which police nabbed Sohal. However, Singh managed to escape, the SSP said.

Police have recovered two Chinese pistols, three magazines, 50 live cartridges and four 9mm pistol magazines from Sohal's possession, the officials said.

Notably, in 2021, Bhullar and his accomplice Jaspreet Singh Jassi were shot dead in an encounter in Kolkata in connection with the murder of two Assistant Sub-inspectors in Jagraon in Ludhiana.

According to police, Bhullar had also bought land in Khanna city of Ludhiana under Sohal's name.