A chilling police investigation in Ludhiana has unveiled a horrific plot: a 71-year-old U.S. citizen of Indian origin was brutally murdered—bludgeoned with a baseball bat, her body burned, and then dumped in a drain. Authorities allege the heinous crime was orchestrated by a U.K.-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI) man, Charanjit Singh Grewal, whom she had intended to marry.
The victim, identified as Rupinder Kaur Pandher, had traveled to India from Seattle at the invitation of Grewal, originally from Ludhiana. He was meant to be her future husband, but later withdrew his marriage proposal, police reported. Her murder took place in July.
Police officials confirmed that some of the woman’s skeletal remains were recovered from the drain during the investigation.
In connection with the murder, police have arrested Sukhjeet Singh, a Ludhiana court typist residing in Kila Raipur. Singh is accused of carrying out the killing.
The grim incident came to light after Singh himself filed a missing person report for Pandher in August, seemingly to deflect suspicion. He falsely claimed that Pandher had departed for the Delhi airport, en route to Canada for a wedding, according to police statements.
However, suspicion arose when Pandher’s sister, Kamal Kaur Khairah, became concerned after her sister’s mobile phone went silent on July 24. Ms. Khairah promptly notified the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, which then urged local police to intensify their search.
Investigations revealed that Pandher and Grewal had initially connected through a matrimonial website and had been dating.
It was also discovered that Pandher, who had been married twice before, was a proclaimed offender in a property dispute with her relatives. Grewal had reportedly enlisted Sukhjeet Singh’s help with this legal matter. Alarmingly, Pandher had even granted her power of attorney to Singh and was living at his residence.
According to police, Grewal, desiring to avoid marriage with Pandher, instructed Singh to eliminate her. The NRI allegedly promised Singh a sum of ₹50 lakh for the murder and offered to help him relocate abroad after the crime was committed.
On July 12, Singh allegedly attacked Pandher with a baseball bat, causing her death. He then proceeded to burn her body using coal, packed her remains into gunny bags, and discarded them in a drain.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rupinder Singh confirmed that law enforcement has recovered some of the victim’s remains, along with her damaged mobile phone. The accused reportedly destroyed her iPhone with a hammer, which was also found.
Police further stated that Sukhjeet Singh repainted his house in an attempt to erase any incriminating evidence.
Singh has confessed to committing the murder at his home. Charanjit Singh Grewal, who is currently residing abroad, has also been formally charged in connection with the case.