Bathinda Murder Case Ends in Acquittal: Witnesses Turn Hostile

On August 2, 2025, a special court in Bathinda acquitted four persons, including foreign-based gangster Arsh Dala's father Charanjit Singh, in a high-profile murder case. The accused were cleared of all charges due to a lack of evidence, as the key witnesses in the case turned hostile and doubts were raised over the recovered weapons.

The incident dates back to October 28, 2023, when Bathinda Mall Road Shopkeepers' Association president and owner of Harman Amritsar Kulcha, Harjinder Singh, also known as Mela, was killed outside his shop in broad daylight. Angry over the killing, local traders had protested by closing their businesses and blocking the main road, with Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and slain rapper Sidhu Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh, present at the scene.

The district police had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information about the accused by releasing their sketches. However, the prosecution was unable to prove its case against the four accused beyond reasonable doubt, as the material witnesses, including the victim's wife and employees, did not support the case. The remaining witnesses only confirmed the formal investigation proceedings, and there was no other independent evidence to substantiate the allegations.

As a result, the court of special court/additional sessions judge Rajesh Kumar acquitted the accused, leaving the local community and authorities disappointed with the outcome of the high-profile case.