Gurdaspur, October 25 — The family of 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, a truck driver from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, has appealed to Sikh religious authorities for intervention after his arrest in the United States following a fatal multi-vehicle crash in Ontario, California. The accident, which involved eight vehicles, claimed three lives and left four others injured.
Jashanpreet, a resident of Puranashala village, about 8 km from Gurdaspur, has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs, and causing bodily injury. His family, however, strongly denies the drug-use allegations, asserting that he was a devout Sikh who strictly adhered to religious tenets.
His father, Ravinder Singh, a school bus driver, said his son regularly took part in nagar kirtans and often played the role of one of the Panj Pyaras in religious processions. “He never touched intoxicants. We are deeply hurt by these false accusations,” he said, showing photographs of Jashanpreet at Sikh events.
Jashanpreet’s mother, Jasveer Kaur, has urged the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to take up the issue with the Indian Consulate in California. “Our son was a baptised Sikh. We request Sikh institutions to ensure that his case is investigated fairly,” she appealed.
The family revealed that they had paid nearly ₹40 lakh to a travel agent to send Jashanpreet abroad in search of better prospects. “We mortgaged our house to secure his future, but this tragedy has crushed our hopes,” Ravinder Singh said, also expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
Reports suggest that Jashanpreet entered the US in November 2022 by crossing the southern border. He was briefly detained by border authorities and later released under a US policy allowing migrants to stay pending deportation hearings.
While California authorities claim toxicology tests indicate drug use, the family maintains that Jashanpreet is innocent and a victim of misrepresentation, hoping diplomatic and religious bodies will help ensure a fair and transparent investigation.