Six doctors and two Muktsar residents have been charged with murder after the body of Simrandeep Singh Brar, a 39-year-old bank manager with the Central Bank of India, was recovered from a canal. Brar, who went missing after attending a party with friends, was found in his car submerged in a canal on October 18, two days after his disappearance.
Brar attended a party on October 16 with several doctors and friends at the bungalow of Kaku Sandhu, one of the accused, located on Abohar Road. According to the complaint filed by Brar's wife, Amandeep Kaur, the gathering turned deadly after a disagreement involving money. The FIR accuses Dr. Sandeep Sandhu, Dr. Opminder Singh Virk, Dr. Amninder Singh Sandhu, Dr. Gurraj Singh, Dr. Maheshinder Singh, Dr. Gurpreet Singh, Kaku Sandhu, and Rinku Bawa of being responsible for Brar’s death.
The complaint mentions that Kaku Sandhu had borrowed Rs 4 lakh from Brar and had failed to repay it. The situation allegedly escalated after Brar and Sandhu argued about the money on the morning of October 16. That evening, Brar went to meet Sandhu and the other accused to settle the issue. The group gathered for a get-together at Sandhu's bungalow, and Brar reportedly spoke to his wife around 11 p.m., informing her he would return home within two hours. However, he never came back.
After Brar failed to return, Amandeep Kaur called Dr. Sandeep Sandhu, one of the accused, at 2 a.m. Sandhu told her that he was at home and unaware of Brar’s whereabouts. Half an hour later, Kaur contacted Kaku Sandhu, who claimed that they were all at a dhabha (a roadside eatery) and would return after eating. Despite these assurances, Brar did not come home.
When Brar’s father, retired AGM of the Central Bank of India, realized that something was wrong, he reported his son missing to the authorities. The police immediately launched an investigation, tracking Brar's mobile phone location to the area near Bhullar village, where his car was eventually found in a canal.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in to assist with the search. After a thorough investigation, Brar's car, along with his body, was recovered from the canal. The discovery confirmed the family’s worst fears. Brar’s wife, Amandeep Kaur, filed an official complaint, stating her belief that her husband had been murdered by the eight accused individuals as part of a premeditated conspiracy. She argued that the group staged his death to make it look like an accident.
The police registered the case under section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which covers murder charges involving a group of five or more individuals, as well as section 190, which pertains to crimes committed by members of an unlawful assembly. The FIR highlighted the financial relationship between Brar and the accused, especially the loans some of the doctors had taken from the Central Bank of India, where Brar worked as a manager.
Despite the grave accusations, no arrests have been made so far. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brar’s death. The Indian Express tried to reach out to Station House Officer Harpreet Kaur and Senior Superintendent of Police Tushar Gupta for comments, but they were unavailable.
According to the FIR, Brar’s wife has alleged that the eight individuals conspired to kill her husband due to their financial disputes. The argument over the money lent to Kaku Sandhu, combined with the tensions between Brar and the other accused, reportedly created the perfect storm that led to his death. Amandeep Kaur is convinced that her husband’s death was not an accident but a carefully orchestrated murder disguised as a mishap.
The group’s behavior on the night of the party, including the delayed and inconsistent responses to Kaur’s inquiries, has raised suspicions. Authorities are now focused on gathering more evidence to determine whether the death was indeed the result of foul play.
Despite the filing of the FIR and the murder charges, the police have yet to apprehend any of the accused. Investigators are working to piece together the timeline of events leading up to Brar’s death. The exact role each accused played in the alleged murder is still under investigation.
The death of Simrandeep Singh Brar has shocked the Muktsar community, where he was well-known as a diligent and dedicated bank manager. As the investigation progresses, the police are expected to make further announcements regarding the case.
Brar’s family is demanding swift action against the accused and calling for justice. They believe the murder charges are justified, given the financial and personal disputes that appear to have contributed to his death. Amandeep Kaur has urged the police to make arrests as soon as possible and thoroughly investigate the conspiracy she believes led to her husband's death.
As the investigation continues, the Muktsar community is left grappling with the loss of a respected figure and the disturbing details emerging from the case. The truth behind Brar’s death remains uncertain, but the charges against the doctors and other individuals point to a complex web of financial and personal motives.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
