The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested a man allegedly involved in the murder of Punjabi social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu, marking a significant development in a case that has attracted widespread attention in Punjab.
The accused has been identified as Parminder Kaka, alias Parminder Prasad. According to Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials, Parminder allegedly carried out the shooting and also arranged the motorcycle used in the attack.
Ahmedabad Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajit Rajian said Parminder’s alleged role was that of the shooter. Police are now questioning him to establish the sequence of events surrounding the killing, identify other people involved and determine the motive behind the attack.
Mad Sandhu was shot dead on October 3 in the Loharka Road area of Amritsar. According to police, two men riding a motorcycle approached him and opened fire before fleeing the scene. Sandhu suffered serious bullet injuries and died while being taken to hospital.
The killing triggered a major investigation by Punjab Police, with investigators examining several possible angles, including whether the attack was a planned or contract killing. Police had earlier detained two people while trying to establish the identity of the shooters and those who may have ordered the attack.
The latest arrest has also brought an alleged connection with the Goldy Dhillon gang under scrutiny. Police have said Parminder was allegedly associated with the gang, while investigators are examining whether the killing was linked to a wider organised criminal network. A social media post claiming responsibility for Sandhu’s murder had surfaced after the killing, but Punjab Police had earlier warned that such online claims were unauthenticated and urged people not to circulate unverified information.
The alleged gang connection therefore remains part of the investigation rather than an established fact. Police are expected to question Parminder about his alleged association with the network, his movements after the murder and the involvement of any accomplices.
Sandhu was a prominent figure on Punjabi social media and worked as a makeup artist. He was known for discussing makeup, gender issues and self-expression on digital platforms and podcasts. He had around 2.26 lakh followers on Instagram and had also appeared in the Punjabi film ‘Oye Bhole Oye’.
In the months before his death, Sandhu had faced criticism and online backlash over some of his content, fashion choices and public discussions. Police have been examining whether any of these controversies had a connection with the murder, but no motive has been conclusively established.
The arrest in Ahmedabad is expected to help investigators piece together the full chain of events behind the October 3 shooting. The immediate priorities are to identify the second assailant, establish who planned the attack, determine whether any criminal network was involved and uncover the motive behind Sandhu’s killing.
The accused is expected to be handed over to Punjab Police after completion of the necessary legal procedures in Gujarat. The investigation remains ongoing.
