Who killed Mad Sandhu? Police probe social media claims, old threats
Two rival claims of responsibility have surfaced as investigators scan CCTV footage and forensic evidence for clues
The police team investigating the murder of Punjabi social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu in Amritsar is scanning CCTV footage, examining forensic evidence and verifying multiple social media claims of responsibility as they try to identify the two motorcycle-borne assailants.
Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan, was shot dead at close range on Loharka Road around 6 pm on Saturday (October 3), when he went to get his car back from a washing centre. Two unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire and fled the spot. Sandhu was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Also read: Punjabi influencer, makeup artist Mad Sandhu shot dead
The motive, however, remains unclear and police are probing the case from multiple angles.
CCTV, forensic evidence under scanner
The Amritsar Police Commissioner's office has deployed multiple teams to trace the attackers and reconstruct their escape route. Police have scanned CCTV cameras along Loharka Road and surrounding areas, while investigators are examining eyewitness accounts and footage from the crime scene.
Two empty bullet shells were recovered from the spot and have been sent for forensic examination. Police are also working to establish the firearm used in the attack.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sirivennela and DCP (Investigation) Prabhjot Singh Virk have said investigators have secured “some solid leads” and are hopeful of arresting the accused soon.
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A purported video of the aftermath of the shooting has also circulated on social media, showing Sandhu lying on the road with people attempting to move him.
Competing claims of responsibility
The probe has also widened to social media posts claiming responsibility for the murder.
A Facebook account operating under the name “Goldy Dhillon” surfaced after the shooting and claimed responsibility, alleging that Sandhu was “spoiling” Punjabi culture. Police are verifying the authenticity of the post and examining whether the account has any actual connection to the killing.
An audio clip subsequently circulated online in which a person identified as Lucky Johal also allegedly claimed responsibility. Investigators are examining both claims and have not publicly identified those behind them or linked either claim to the actual perpetrators.
Earlier threat being examined
Police are also looking into a dispute between Sandhu and Nihang Jathedar Manpreet Singh Khalsa over his social media content and clothing choices.
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The dispute, reportedly over a few months ago, involved objections to Sandhu’s content and the alleged impact of his videos on young people. While police have not linked the Nihang group to the murder, investigators are examining the incident as part of Sandhu’s previous threat history.
Sandhu, around 30, was openly gay and had built a following of more than two lakh on Instagram. He frequently spoke about makeup, gender issues and fashion on digital platforms and had also acted in the Punjabi film Oye Bhole Oye.
Reactions
The murder has also drawn political reactions, with Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka attacking the AAP government over the law-and-order situation in Punjab and demanding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation.
Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla alleged that Sandhu had been receiving threats for some time and had spoken about them publicly on social media. He questioned whether the threats had been taken seriously and demanded an investigation into who was behind them and what action had been taken earlier.
For the police, the immediate challenge is to establish whether the social media claims are genuine, identify the two men seen fleeing on the motorcycle and determine whether Sandhu’s earlier threats were connected to the shooting.
No arrests or official identification of the suspects had been announced as of Sunday (October 4).