Ludhiana, Sept 17 — Punjab Police have cracked the murder case of 71-year-old Rupinder Kaur Pandher, a US citizen of Indian origin, who was killed in late July in Kila Raipur, Ludhiana.
Rupinder Kaur, a divorced woman from Seattle, had travelled to Punjab after being promised marriage by 75-year-old Charanjit Singh Grewal, a UK-based NRI. Days after her arrival, she went missing, prompting her sister to alert the US Embassy.
On August 18, local resident Sukhjeet Singh alias Sonu lodged a false complaint claiming Rupinder was abducted. Last week, police detained Sonu, who confessed to strangling her and burning her body in his storeroom at Grewal’s behest. He admitted Grewal had promised him ₹50 lakh for the crime.
Police have recovered incriminating evidence from Sonu’s residence and are tracing skeletal remains. Investigations revealed Rupinder had transferred large sums of money to Sonu and his brother, allegedly as part of the marriage arrangement.
A status report filed by Dehlon police confirmed Sonu’s confession and named Grewal as a co-conspirator. Rupinder’s family has demanded recovery of her remains and justice against all accused.