Two Indian-origin men, Jaskaran Singh Sidhu and Prabhjyot Bhatti, both 25, have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Canada for the 2019 ambush killing of two Indian-origin drug dealers in Calgary. The attack, fueled by gang rivalry, was masterminded as revenge for a 2016 stabbing incident. Sidhu and Bhatti will serve life sentences without parole eligibility for 25 years, but both have filed appeals citing trial errors.
The victims, Jasdeep Singh (25) and Japneet Malhi (22), were well-known drug dealers in Calgary. According to reports from the Calgary Herald, the fatal shooting occurred as the two victims, accompanied by Malhi’s girlfriend, were leaving a lounge and entering Singh’s Mercedes SUV. A sedan pulled up, and shots were fired from the passenger side, killing both Singh and Malhi instantly.
The orchestrator of the attack, Amandeep Saggu, also of Indian descent, reportedly planned the killings to avenge a 2016 incident in which Malhi stabbed him. Saggu, who was present in the vehicle during the attack, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year. He admitted to masterminding the murders and was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.
Canadian media reports highlight Saggu’s long history of criminal activity, including drug smuggling and gang-related violence. Following the 2016 stabbing, Saggu reportedly chose not to cooperate with the police or press charges against Malhi. Instead, he began plotting his revenge, which culminated in the 2019 double homicide.
Further complicating Saggu’s criminal record, a December 2021 investigation into an organized drug trafficking network operating across Western Canada led to him being charged with five additional offences. These included instructing others to commit criminal acts for an organization, trafficking controlled substances, producing illegal substances, and possessing crime-generated property.
During the murder trial of Sidhu and Bhatti, a key protected witness identified as “WA” provided crucial testimony. WA claimed he had been instructed to confirm the victims’ presence at the lounge on the night of the attack. After verifying their location, WA passed this information to Sidhu and Bhatti, who waited for approximately 90 minutes before executing the ambush.
WA further recounted a disturbing earlier encounter with the sedan used in the shooting. According to his testimony, while he was pursuing the sedan to buy cocaine, Sidhu pointed a gun at him and threatened, “You’re lucky you didn’t get shot.”
The defence team, represented by Andrea Urquhart and Shamsher Kothari, challenged the prosecution’s case during the trial. They argued that the Crown failed to conclusively establish who was in the sedan at the time of the shooting. The defence also attacked WA’s testimony, questioning its reliability and credibility.
Despite the defence’s arguments, the jury deliberated for an entire day before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts. Justice Karen Horner imposed the mandatory life sentences on both Sidhu and Bhatti for first-degree murder.
However, both men have since filed appeals, claiming multiple trial errors. Their appeals allege that Justice Horner’s instructions to the jury and the admission of certain evidence had a “significant prejudicial effect” on the trial’s outcome. They argue these factors ultimately led to an “unreasonable verdict.” A date for the appeal hearings has not yet been scheduled.
The case has reignited concerns over escalating gang violence within Canada’s Indian-origin communities. This double homicide is one of several gang-related incidents involving Indian-origin men in recent years. Calgary, in particular, has witnessed an alarming rise in violence linked to organized drug networks.
Experts believe that the incident underscores the deep-rooted issues within these criminal organizations, where cycles of revenge perpetuate violence. Amandeep Saggu’s role as the mastermind, combined with his long history of organized crime, highlights the dangerous interplay of drugs, gangs, and personal vendettas.
The sentencing of Sidhu and Bhatti marks a significant outcome for the Canadian justice system in its efforts to curb gang violence. However, the appeals process will likely continue to draw attention to the case in the coming months.
For now, the families of the victims and the perpetrators await the next legal developments as the case continues to unfold.