A fugitive gangster who claims to have orchestrated the murder of Punjabi music icon Sidhu Moosewala has broken his silence, telling the BBC that he ordered the hit as an act of unavoidable revenge, and that he feels “no remorse whatsoever.”

Goldy Brar, who is wanted by Interpol, provided his detailed motive for the first time in a series of voice notes to the BBC, in an interview released on Wednesday. The account framed the murder as a brutal consequence of a gang rivalry that Moosewala had allegedly fuelled.

“In his arrogance, he [Moosewala] made some mistakes that could not be forgiven,” Brar said. “We had no option but to kill him. It was either him or us. As simple as that.”

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known globally as Sidhu Moosewala, 28, was gunned down in broad daylight in Punjab’s Mansa district. His vehicle was ambushed, six gunmen armed with AK-47s and pistols opened fire, hitting the rapper with 24 bullets, according to a post-mortem report.

Goldy Brar tells BBC his motive was revenge for associate Vicky Middukhera’s murder in 2021

Mr Brar publicly claimed responsibility for the May 29, 2022, killing within hours of the event but had not spoken in detail about his motives until now.

He, along with his associate Lawrence Bishnoi, is allegedly the mastermind of the assassination.

The central motive, according to Brar, was revenge for the murder of Vicky Middukhera in 2021, an associate of Bishnoi.

Brar alleged Moosewala used his political influence and resources to protect the individuals responsible for Middukhera’s death.

Police named Moosewala’s manager, Shaganpreet Singh, on the Middukhera’s murder charge sheet, alleging he provided information and logistical support to the gunmen. Singh fled to Australia, and Moosewala denied any involvement.

“We wanted him to face punishment for what he’d done. He had to face the

consequences of his actions” Mr Brar told the BBC. “He should have been booked. He should have been jailed. But nobody listened to our plea. So we took it upon ourselves.”

Detailing the origins of the feud, Brar said tensions escalated when Moosewala promoted a kabaddi match organised by the Bambiha gang, rivals of the Bishnoi gang.

A brief truce was mediated by Middukhera, but his subsequent killing was the breaking point and ignited the dispute with deadly intensity “He was promoting our rivals. That’s when Lawrence and others were upset with him,” Mr Brar said.

Although there was no evidence of linking Moosewala to the killing or to any gang-related crime, but Brar was convinced that the rapper must be involved with the rival gang.

“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.

The interview also revealed that Bishnoi and Moosewala had been in contact as early as 2018.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2025