Canada’s Calgary rocked by violent extortion case; 4 Indian-origin men arrested, another wanted
Calgary/Canada: Four Indian-origin men were arrested and charged in connection with a violent kidnapping and extortion case that authorities say is part of an ongoing series of crimes targeting the South Asian community in Calgary, Canada.
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) said in a release that the incident marked a “significant escalation” in violence linked to extortion networks operating in the region.
According to investigators, the incident began between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on May 6, when a man was allegedly kidnapped from a residence in Edmonton by four armed suspects. Police said the victim was assaulted, threatened at gunpoint and forced into a vehicle before being driven nearly 300 kilometres to Calgary.
Authorities said the suspects took the victim to a residence in Calgary’s Cityscape neighbourhood, where additional individuals and vehicles were waiting. Investigators alleged the kidnappers attempted to force the victim to lure a friend, believed to be the intended extortion target, out of his home.
When the victim refused, he was assaulted again, police said.
During the incident, the intended target and his wife attempted to leave their residence but were allegedly followed and threatened with a firearm. The couple managed to flee back into their home and contacted the police.
Officers later stopped a suspicious vehicle near Metis Trail and 104 Avenue N.E. in Calgary and arrested two men allegedly connected to the incident. Police said the original kidnapping in Edmonton had not yet been reported at the time.
Investigators said the remaining suspects later drove the kidnapping victim back to Edmonton and released him near his residence early the following morning. The victim subsequently contacted police.
On May 12, with assistance from the CPS Tactical Team, investigators arrested two additional suspects during a traffic stop in the 600 block of Martindale Boulevard N.E. Police also seized a privately manufactured firearm during the investigation.
The accused have been identified as Taranveer Singh, 24; Daksh Gautam, 25; Akashdeep Singh, 18; and Pardeep Singh, 24 — all residents of Calgary.
Taranveer Singh and Daksh Gautam each face multiple charges, including kidnapping with a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon and unauthorised possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
Akashdeep Singh and Pardeep Singh have also been charged with kidnapping with a firearm, pointing a firearm, unlawful confinement and assault-related offences.
Police have also issued warrants for a fifth suspect, identified as Gagandeep Singh, 29, of Calgary. Investigators said he has connections to Calgary, Ontario and British Columbia and remains at large.
“This is a significant escalation in violence in the extortion incidents that we have seen in Calgary so far,” Supt. Jeff Bell of the CPS Criminal Operations and Intelligence Division said in a statement.
“Since this series began, we have been working very closely with our policing partners nationally to share information and co-ordinate our response, which allowed us to quickly make arrests in this case,” Bell added.
Police said they believe additional suspects may have been involved and appealed to the public for information related to the case.
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