After spending over three years behind bars, two accused walk free on bail in the murder case of Sidhu Moose Wala even as the trial awaits testimony from more than 180 witnesses

New Delhi: In an important development in one of Punjab’s most high-profile murder cases, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday granted bail to two accused — Pawan Kumar Bishnoi and Jagtar Singh — who were arrested in connection with the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer-rapper and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed their release, mentioning the “facts and circumstances of the case” and the long time they had already spent in jail.

Pawan Kumar Bishnoi had been in custody for almost 3 years and 9 months, while Jagtar Singh had been in jail for about 3 years and 5 months.

The court asked the trial court to decide the bail conditions. It also warned that if the accused try to delay the case, the state can request the court to cancel the bail.

The Assassination That Shocked Punjab

On May 29, 2022, at around 5:30 PM, in Jawaharke village of Mansa district in Punjab, 28-year-old Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known around the world as Sidhu Moose Wala, was attacked and killed in a drive-by shooting.

He was travelling in his private car, which was not bullet-proof, along with two companions when several vehicles surrounded them. The attackers then opened fire.

The assailants fired more than 30 rounds using an AN-94 Russian assault rifle and pistols. Moose Wala suffered 19 bullet injuries and died within about 15 minutes. The two other people in the car were injured. Police later recovered AN-94 and pistol bullets from the crime scene.

Just one day before the attack, on May 28, 2022, the Punjab Government had reduced Moose Wala’s security cover from four commandos to two as part of a larger order that affected 424 people.

Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Claims Responsibility

The gang of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the killing. They said the murder was carried out as revenge for the 2021 killing of Akali Youth leader Vicky Middukhera.

Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar publicly said that his “Punjab module” had carried out the attack.

The Punjab Police registered an FIR the same day at Mansa City-1 police station and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). During the investigation, police described the case as inter-gang rivalry.

Massive Chargesheet and Over 180 Witnesses

In August 2022, police filed a 1,850-page chargesheet against 24 accused out of 36 people named in the case.

The charges include Section 302 (murder), Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, along with provisions of the Arms Act.

The chargesheet first listed 122 witnesses, but the trial in the Mansa court now involves more than 180 prosecution witnesses.

Police named Lawrence Bishnoi as the main mastermind and identified Goldy Brar as the overseas coordinator. Investigators also identified six shooters in the attack, including Ankit Sirsa, whom police arrested in July 2022 and said fired from the closest distance.

The Two Accused Who Got Bail

Pawan Kumar Bishnoi, arrested on June 11, 2022, was accused of supplying the Mahindra Bolero SUV used in the attack on the instructions of Goldy Brar.

Police claimed that he received 41 phone calls from Brar and his associates. However, his lawyers argued that he had no direct link to Lawrence Bishnoi apart from sharing the same surname. The defence also said that investigators linked him to the case only through a confession in another case, from which the court later discharged him. The defence further stated that police did not recover any vehicle used in the attack from him.

Police arrested Jagtar Singh on October 13, 2022. He lived in the same village as Sidhu Moose Wala and people considered him the singer’s neighbour.

Police accused him of carrying out reconnaissance (recce) of the singer’s movements and sharing this information with the gang. Singh denied the allegations and said that the cameras installed near Moose Wala’s residence were actually for the security of his own house.

High Court Rejected Bail Earlier

On August 1, 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected their bail requests. The court said it was too early to grant bail before eyewitnesses recorded their statements.

After this decision, the two accused approached the Supreme Court of India by filing Special Leave Petitions.

The bail order came while the trial is still at the stage of recording evidence. Some protected witnesses have already testified, but more than 180 witnesses are still waiting to give their statements.

What This Means for the High-Profile Trial

The Supreme Court granting bail does not mean the accused are innocent or acquitted. The trial is still continuing in the Mansa court.

Several other accused in the case are still in jail.Courts have recently rejected several bail applications, including the second bail plea of Prabhdeep Singh. In 2023, a jail clash at Goindwal Sahib Central Jail killed two other accused in the case.

For the family of Sidhu Moose Wala and many people in Punjab, the release of these two accused after nearly four years in custody once again raises concerns about the slow pace of justice in cases that involve hundreds of witnesses and international gangster networks.

The trial in Mansa is still ongoing, and more than 180 witnesses have yet to complete their testimony.