The Government of India has designated Canada-based gangster Satwinder Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. In a notification issued on 1 January 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that Goldy Brar, backed by Pakistani agencies, was involved in multiple killing and professes radical ideology, figured in making threatening calls to pro-nationalist leaders, demanding ransom and posting the claims of killings on different social media platforms.

Goldy Brar is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder of Punjabi singer, Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022. He was featured in Canada’s most wanted list in May 2023 for murder, conspiracy, illegal firearm trade and attempted murder. INTERPOL had previously issued a non-bailable warrant in December 2022.

In March 2023, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against the gangster and 13 others including Lawrence Bishnoi for alleged links with the terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and several other pro-Khalistani terrorist outfits.

MHA, in its notification, also accused Goldy Brar of being involved with BKI besides “smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunitions and explosive materials through drones from across the border and supplying thereon for carrying out killings and also providing sharp shooters”.

Goldy Brar and his associates have been “conspiring to disrupt the peace, communal harmony and law and order in the State of Punjab through nefarious designs including sabotage, raising of terror modules, carrying out targeted killings, and other anti-national activities”, the notice further said.