Inside the Murder of Sidhu Moosewala

On 29th May 2022, a star at the peak of his fame was murdered. The death of Punjabi superstar Sidhu Moosewala shocked the nation. Everyone asked the same two questions: Who killed him and why? The first was answered when Goldy Brar—a Canada-based gangster— openly admitted to the murder. He also revealed the involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang. But the second question still remains: Why was Sidhu Moosewala killed? The mystery lingered for a long time, feeding controversy and conspiracy theories.

A week ago, BBC released a documentary on YouTube that aimed to shed light on Sidhu’s life and death. Directed and researched by Ishleen Kaur, the documentary does not hold back. Despite protests from Sidhu’s father, the documentary hit like a storm; diving deep into the secrets of the artist’s world.

The Tupac of Mansa

Sidhu’s often roleplayed gangsters in his songs. That wasn’t a problem, but in an industry crawling with real gangsters, it proved to be fatal.

Bobby Friction described Sidhu’s obsession with 90s hip-hop and artists like Tupac Shakur. Tupac was not just a rapper, but a revolutionary and Sidhu wanted to follow in his footsteps. Moosewala died a death similar to his idol, with gang violence often being attributed as the reason behind the murder of Tupac Shakur. 

Moosewala’s lyrics echoed untold histories of Punjab, stories no one dared to speak of for decades. A farmer’s son, Sidhu organized a tractor rally in Mansa before the farmers’ protest. One of his songs became an anthem at protest sites across Punjab and Haryana.

Entanglement with Gangs

The first signs of trouble came in 2018. He began receiving threatening calls. Sometimes, he would text his friends his live show locations via WhatsApp, saying, “If I don’t come back,  find me here.”

“He’d say, let’s just do a song, no money, no questions,“ Sidhu’s associate recalled. This was how the gangsters operated— They demanding song rights instead of asking for cash.

Director Ishleen Kaur, who investigated the case, spoke to a gangster who admitted, “We’re in the same circle as the singers. They need protection, and they pay for it. If someone refuses, I know what to do. I just send two guys on a motorcycle.”

Shockingly, it’s revealed that Sidhu was also in touch with Lawrence Bishnoi. Brar noted that Sidhu would often flatter Lawrence, maintaining regular contact through “Good Morning” and “Good Night” texts. The gangster first contacted Sidhu from jail in 2017–18, praising him and saying, “You’re doing well.”

From Campus to Crime Lord— The making of Bishnoi and Brar

The rise of Lawrence Bishnoi began at Panjab University, where he was once involved in student politics. He was shadowed by Vicky Middukhera, often referred to as Brar and Bishnoi’s godfather. Middukhera was a beloved, peaceful student leader at Panjab University. He was also the one who put forth Bishnoi as the face of the election in the University. He had strong ties with both gangs and artists, often acting as a middleman. 

Although Middukhera remained in politics, Bishnoi and Brar decided to turn in another direction. Bishnoi, an already short tempered man, now went from campus politics to jail. That is where he got into crime around  2011.  He soon expanded his network, manpower, and reached Haryana and Punjab. Meanwhile, Goldy Brar operated everything from abroad.

One Performance, One Unforgivable Mistake

Gang involvement in kabaddi matches through betting, match-fixing, and event organizing had often created dangerous intersections between crime and entertainment. Sidhu was once called to perform at a kabaddi event by Mandeep Dhaliwal, a reported member of the Bambiha Gang, rivals to Bishnoi.

Lawrence warned him not to go, but Sidhu still performed. That moment reportedly triggered the fallout. Even though Sidhu apologized, it wasn’t accepted.

Journalists confirmed that Sidhu refused to pay protection money and often stood his ground. With political connections, police ties, and rival gangs around him, he didn’t fear easily but this was beginning to seem like the end for him.

The Fall of the Peacemaker- Death of Vicky Middukhera

Vicky Middukhera was considered a peacemaker, even between gangs. But in 2021, he was murdered. The Bambiha gang claimed responsibility on Facebook. Since then, Brar and Bishnoi were consumed by revenge.

When the chargesheet for Vicky’s murder revealed the name Shaganpreet Singh, Sidhu’s occasional manager and friend, suspicion began to fall on Sidhu himself. Although he always denied involvement, the damage was done.

Now, Sidhu was in a dilemma: trapped between powerful criminals and public perception. He stopped taking certain calls and distanced himself, but people began to believe he was aligned with the Bambiha gang.

Inside the Mind of a Gangster- Goldy Brar’s Confessions

Ishleen Kaur spoke directly with Goldy Brar via multiple voice notes.

“He made arrogant mistakes that couldn’t be forgiven. It was either him or us,” Brar said.

He continued,

“Sidhu had strong backing from the police, politicians. We wanted him arrested, we wanted justice, but nobody listened. So we took matters into our own hands.”

When asked why he committed the murder, he revealed:

“I didn’t kill him for money or fame. If I wanted fame, I would’ve chosen someone bigger. I did it for my brother. The justice system in India is good only on paper.”

When asked why he didn’t go after others involved in Middukhera’s murder, he replied:

“Oh ma’am, wait and watch. We’ll find them. And we’ll kill them too.”