Goldy Brar claims role in Nijjar killing in leaked audio, cites drug motive
Synopsis
A purported leaked audio recording has surfaced in which fugitive gangster Goldy Brar allegedly claims he ordered the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar — not for political reasons, but over Nijjar's alleged role in promoting drug abuse among youth. If authenticated, the recording could fundamentally shift the motive narrative in one of the most diplomatically charged assassinations in recent India-Canada history.
Key Takeaways
Fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a purported leaked audio conversation.
Brar reportedly cited Nijjar's alleged promotion of drug abuse among teenagers as his motive — a gang-related rationale not previously reported.
Intelligence sources have reportedly confirmed the voice in the audio is Brar's , though independent authentication is pending.
Nijjar, 45 , was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia , on 18 June 2023 .
Operation Hardball , a joint US-Canada probe, has charged 37 defendants linked to transnational criminal networks including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
A senior Canadian official said in July that investigators found no evidence linking Indian government officials to the US probe.
US-based fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023, according to a purported leaked audio conversation with Paramjit Singh Pamma, another individual linked to pro-Khalistan networks. Intelligence sources have reportedly confirmed that the voice in the recording is Brar's.
What the Leaked Audio Reveals
In the purported conversation, Brar is allegedly heard stating that Nijjar was targeted over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and the promotion of drug abuse among young people. Brar reportedly claimed that Nijjar's alleged role in pushing drugs among teenagers had angered him — a stated motive that, if verified, would introduce a gang-related dimension to what has until now been framed primarily as a geopolitical dispute.
The audio has not been independently authenticated. Should that authentication occur, investigators say it could significantly reshape the narrative around the 18 June 2023 killing.
Background: The Nijjar Assassination
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. The killing set off a major diplomatic rupture between India and Canada after Canadian authorities alleged a possible connection between Indian government agents and the assassination. India has categorically rejected those allegations. Nijjar had been designated a wanted terrorist by Indian security agencies several years before his death, owing to his alleged links to the pro-Khalistan movement.
Operation Hardball and the Bishnoi Network
The leaked audio surfaces alongside renewed scrutiny under Operation Hardball, a joint US-Canada law enforcement operation targeting transnational criminal syndicates. US investigators have alleged links between members of the Lawrence Bishnoi network and the killing of Nijjar, examining the assassination within the framework of organised crime rather than solely as a state-sponsored act.
In July, a senior Canadian law enforcement official stated that investigators had found no evidence linking Indian government officials to the US investigation. That investigation led to the unsealing of three federal indictments charging 37 defendants linked to transnational criminal organisations with offences including racketeering, murder, extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking — the result of a years-long multinational probe spanning the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Who Is Goldy Brar
Goldy Brar is wanted by Indian authorities in connection with multiple serious criminal cases, including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He is considered a key figure within transnational gang networks and is believed to be based in the United States. His alleged ties to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi have been the subject of ongoing investigations across multiple jurisdictions.
What Comes Next
The purported audio recording adds a contested new layer to an already complex investigation that has strained India-Canada diplomatic relations for over two years. Independent forensic authentication of the recording will be critical to determining its evidentiary value. Investigators across multiple countries are expected to examine the audio as part of the broader Operation Hardball proceedings.
Point of View
And investigators will need to determine whether Brar acted independently, in coordination with others, or is now strategically shaping the narrative to deflect from a politically inconvenient line of inquiry. The India-Canada diplomatic fallout has been severe, and any credible evidence of a non-state motive will be seized upon by New Delhi. But Canada's investigation is unlikely to pivot on a single unverified audio. The deeper question is whether Operation Hardball's indictments will eventually produce courtroom evidence that settles, once and for all, who ordered the killing and why.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the leaked audio involving Goldy Brar reveal?
In a purported leaked audio conversation, fugitive gangster Goldy Brar allegedly claims responsibility for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023, stating that Nijjar's alleged promotion of drug abuse among youth motivated the attack. Intelligence sources have reportedly confirmed the voice as Brar's, though the recording has not been independently authenticated.
Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar and why was he killed?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was a pro-Khalistan figure designated a wanted terrorist by India before his death. He was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023. The motive remains disputed — Canada alleged possible Indian government involvement, which India has denied, while the new audio suggests a gang-related drug motive.
What is Operation Hardball?
Operation Hardball is a joint US-Canada law enforcement operation targeting transnational criminal syndicates. It resulted in the unsealing of three federal indictments charging 37 defendants with offences including racketeering, murder, extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, following a multinational investigation spanning the US, Canada, and Europe.
Has the Indian government been linked to the Nijjar killing?
Canada alleged a possible connection between Indian government agents and the assassination, triggering a major diplomatic crisis. India has categorically rejected those allegations. A senior Canadian law enforcement official stated in July that investigators found no evidence linking Indian government officials to the US probe under Operation Hardball.
Who is Goldy Brar and why is he wanted in India?
Goldy Brar is a US-based fugitive gangster wanted by Indian authorities in connection with multiple serious criminal cases, including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He is considered a key figure in transnational gang networks and is alleged to have ties to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
