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‘I had to kill him’: Goldy Brar admits role in Nijjar murder in leaked audio
A leaked audio recording purportedly captures Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar taking responsibility for the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, citing Nijjar's alleged support for drug networks exploiting youth. The authenticity of the clip remains unverified, and the claim emerges amid ongoing investigations and diplomatic tensions.
Gangster claims role in Nijjar killing in leaked audio
A leaked audio recording surfaced over the weekend in which Satinderjeet Singh, widely known as Goldy Brar, a gangster with ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi network, reportedly claims responsibility for the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In the purported clip, Brar is heard speaking with Khalistani operative Paramjit Singh Pamma, alleging that Nijjar was targeted because he supported people who recruited young people into drug sales.
The recording was reported by multiple outlets, with some noting that it was shared on social media by Canada-based commentator and journalist Ruchi Wali, and that it was reportedly part of an international anti-gang operation known as Operation Hardball. Some outlets reported that intelligence sources confirmed the voice in the audio was Brar's, but most emphasised that the authenticity of the clip has not been independently verified.
Alleged motive: Young people and drug trade
In the audio, Brar is quoted as saying, "Those who groomed and incited 16-to-17-year-olds to sell drugs... those who blackmailed young people into selling drugs and becoming informants... Nijjar supported and strengthened these individuals so that he could use them when necessary." He then said, "That's why we, my team and I, had to kill Nijjar, because these people were using young people to sell drugs. Everyone has to face the consequences of their actions."
According to several reports, Brar denied personal involvement in drug sales, saying, "I have never dealt with chitta (drugs) and will never do so." He also reportedly alleged that Nijjar was involved in the illegal weapons trade, citing that as another reason behind the killing. Some reports add that Brar told his interlocutor, "I am not a coward like Lawrence Bishnoi... He did convince me to take this step."
How this outlet told it
The Tribune
Framing: Headline emphasizes Brar's claim linked to Nijjar killing, not the context or verification — Neutral but slightly skeptical, noting 'purported' and 'authenticity not independently verified'
Facts Included:
Goldy Brar claimed responsibility for Nijjar's killing in purported leaked audio
Audio released by Ruchi Wali, part of Operation Hardball
Brar said he was not a coward like Lawrence Bishnoi and owned up to his role
Nijjar was NIA-designated terrorist, killed in Canada three years ago
FBI linked Brar to Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group, based in US
Federal arrest warrant issued July 1, 2026, charges including RICO conspiracy
Trudeau linked killing to Indian government, India denied, RCMP later denied links
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimGangster Goldy Brar claimed responsibility for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a leaked audio recording.
ClaimThe purported leaked audio recording was part of the anti-gang Operation Hardball and was released on social media by Canada-based commentator and journalist Ruchi Wali.
ClaimIn the leaked audio, Goldy Brar said, "I am not a coward like Lawrence Bishnoi (Balkaran Brar). I own up to my role (of getting Nijjar killed). He (Bishnoi) did convince me to take this step (Killing of Nijjar)."
ClaimIn the leaked audio, Goldy Brar said that Nijjar supported and strengthened people who groomed and incited 16-to-17-year-olds to sell drugs, and blackmailed young people into selling drugs and becoming informants.
ClaimIn the leaked audio, Goldy Brar said that he and his team killed Nijjar because Nijjar's associates were using young people to sell drugs, and that everyone has to face the consequences of their actions.
ClaimThe FBI said that Goldy Brar was wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group, which is allegedly engaged in violent acts in Southern California and across the United States and Canada.
ClaimAccording to the FBI, Goldy Brar is based in the United States and is the alleged leader of the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group in North America.
ClaimOn July 1, 2026, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Goldy Brar in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, after he was charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Interfere and Attempted Interference with Commerce by Extortion; and Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
ClaimThe RCMP later denied links between the Indian government and Nijjar's killing and blamed gang members linked to Lawrence Bishnoi for the killing.
ClaimRCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland said: "There's no evidence to suggest through this organised crime investigation and the charges and the indictment laid forward that Indian officials were charged or involved."
ClaimBrar dismissed allegations that he had been involved in drug-related activities, saying: "I have never dealt with chitta (drugs) and will never do so."
ClaimThe National Investigation Agency announced a Rs 10 lakh cash reward in June 2024 for information leading to the arrest of Satwinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, and his associate Gurpreet Singh (Goldy Dhillon) in connection with a Chandigarh extortion and firing case.
ClaimBJP national spokesperson RP Singh questioned Trudeau's earlier allegations against India and called for the investigation to be guided by evidence.
ClaimNijjar was shot dead in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Newton, Surrey, on June 18, 2023; six men and two vehicles were used in the attack.
ClaimFormer Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma said the purported leaked audio needs to be independently verified and asserted that the incident appeared to be the result of a gang war involving drug trafficking, weapons procurement and rivalries between criminal groups.
ClaimFour Indian citizens are facing trial in Canada in connection with Nijjar's killing, facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
ClaimIn the leaked audio, Brar accused Nijjar of sheltering Arsh Dalla, providing him with weapons and financial support, and promoting drug abuse among youngsters.
ClaimArsh Dalla released a 15-minute video denying Brar's allegations, claiming he had not met Nijjar for nearly a year before the killing and rejected suggestions that Nijjar had offered him money, shelter or arms.
ClaimBrar claimed that Arsh Dalla had narrowly escaped an attack in Hamilton, Canada, and was under police surveillance with a tracking device fitted to his foot.
ClaimMinistry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal officially rejected the RCMP allegations as a "contradiction in terms" and "really strange" in October 2024.
14 outlets · 17 articles consulted: ANI (Asian News International), Business Standard, Deccan Chronicle, Hindustan Times, India TV News, Lokmat Times, Moneycontrol, The New Indian Express, Outlook India, Republic World, scroll.in, THE WEEK, The Times of India, The Tribune28 claims extractedVersion 8Written 2026-08-24