Moose Wala made unforgivable mistakes: Goldy Brar on hip-hop star's murder

Gangster Goldy Brar has spoken out about the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, three years after the artiste was gunned down in broad daylight. In an interview with the BBC World Service, Brar justified the killing, saying Moose Wala had committed "unforgivable" mistakes."In his arrogance, he [Moose Wala] made some mistakes that could not be forgiven," Brar told BBC Eye. "We had no option but to kill him. He had to face the consequences of his actions. It was either him or us. As simple as that."advertisementThe BBC released a two-part documentary series, coinciding with the singer's birth anniversary on June 11. The documentary, which includes an audio interview with Brar, delves into Moose Wala's life, controversies, and the circumstances surrounding his assassination. However, the documentary's release has sparked controversy, with Moose Wala's family moving court to halt its screening.
Sidhu Moose Wala was fatally shot on May 29, 2022, in Punjab's Mansa district while driving his black Mahindra Thar SUV. CCTV footage showed two cars tailing him before one vehicle cornered his SUV. Moose Wala was hit by 24 bullets and declared dead on arrival at the hospital. A cousin and a friend accompanying him were injured but survived.Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the murder via a Facebook post hours after the killing. Although believed to be in Canada at the time, Brar has evaded arrest, and no one has been brought to trial so far.advertisementIn the BBC interview, which unfolded over a six-hour exchange of voice notes, Brar gave a detailed account of his alleged grievances against the late singer.He claimed Moose Wala had promoted a kabbadi tournament organised by the rival Bambiha gang, sparking tensions with Bishnoi's syndicate. Although an associate, Vicky Middukhera, later mediated a truce, his subsequent murder in August 2021 reignited hostilities.Brar alleged that Moose Wala's friend and former manager, Shaganpreet Singh, helped orchestrate Middukhera's murder. Singh later fled India and is reportedly in Australia. Though Punjab Police said there is no evidence linking Moose Wala to gang activities, Brar remains convinced of his complicity."Everyone knew Sidhu's role, the police investigating knew, even the journalists who were investigating knew. Sidhu mixed with politicians and people in power. He was using political power, money, his resources to help our rivals," Brar told the BBC."We wanted him to face punishment for what he'd done. He should have been booked. He should have been jailed. But nobody listened to our plea. So we took it upon ourselves. When decency falls on deaf ears, it's the gunshot that gets heard."When asked about bypassing the legal system, Brar said, "Law. Justice. There's no such thing. Only the powerful can... [obtain] justice, not ordinary people like us."advertisementBrar also denied that extortion was the motive behind the killing but acknowledged that it is central to how gangs operate. "We have to look after hundreds or even thousands of people who are like family to us. We have to extort people. To get money, we have to be feared."The BBC documentary features interviews with Moose Wala's old friends, journalists, and senior police officers from Punjab and Delhi. Initially scheduled for a private screening in Mumbai, it was later uploaded to YouTube following public backlash and legal objections from the singer's family.Moose Wala's father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, has filed a police complaint seeking a ban on the documentary. In his complaint to Maharashtra's DGP and Mumbai's Juhu Police Station, he alleged that the BBC documentary was an attempt to tarnish his son's legacy.He claimed that the film, which features individuals named in the FIR related to Moose Wala's murder, was released without the family's consent and could misrepresent facts.Speaking to India Today, Balkaur Singh confirmed that the family objected to the release and would soon approach the High Court after filing a petition in the Mansa court. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on June 12.advertisementPunjab-based journalist Ritesh Lakhi described Moose Wala's killing as "the biggest" in decades and said it had emboldened extortion rackets. "The capacity of gangsters to extort money has gone up. [Goldy Brar]'s getting huge sums of money after killing Moose Wala.""The fear factor around gangsters has risen amongst the public. It's not just people in the music and film industry who are being extorted - even local businessmen are receiving calls," BBC quoted Deputy Editor of The Tribune, Jupinderjit Singh, as saying.Sidhu Moose Wala rose to global fame for his raw lyrics that touched on gang culture, political disillusionment, and Punjabi identity. With over five billion YouTube views, collaborations with international artists like Burna Boy, and a top-five UK chart spot, he became a symbol of pride for many in the Punjabi diaspora.Despite the accusations, police have reiterated that Moose Wala had no known ties to criminal gangs and denied any conclusive evidence linking him to the killing of Middukhera.Trending Reel

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