The recent release of Arundeep Thind, a man of Indian descent allegedly involved in criminal activities including making extortion calls, has sparked concern within the Indo-Canadian community. Thind, aged 39, was arrested and charged with making threats of extortion against businesses in Canada, particularly those within the South Asian community. Following his two-week stint in custody, Thind issued a cryptic message, "Putt bach ke," immediately upon his release, which was perceived as a warning directed towards his purported targets. This development has prompted Brampton City Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor to voice the community's apprehensions regarding Thind's release.
However, Thind maintains his innocence, vehemently denying the accusations leveled against him by law enforcement authorities, who have portrayed him as a high-ranking member of a criminal organization. He asserts that the portrayal of him as a "criminal" by the media and police is unjust. Thind was among five individuals of Punjabi origin apprehended by the Peel Regional Police's extortion task force on February 8, facing charges ranging from extortion to firearm possession and fraud.
Thind, specifically charged in connection with an alleged incident on January 26, secured release on bail following his detention. He has refuted the characterization of himself as a "criminal," emphasizing his familial responsibilities and pleading innocence. Despite previous social media posts depicting him with what appeared to be a firearm, Thind clarified that these were from a music video shoot and the firearm was not real.
Regarding the extortion charges, Thind recounted a sequence of events where he was coerced into involvement by individuals targeting his friend's restaurant. He insists that he distanced himself from the situation before law enforcement intervention led to his arrest. Additionally, Thind asserted no association with the other four individuals facing charges, namely Gagan Ajit Singh, Anmoldeep Singh, Hashmeet Kaur, and Iymanjot Kaur.
Thind's release, coupled with his brazen messaging, has exacerbated concerns within the Indo-Canadian community, particularly regarding public safety and the efficacy of the bail system. Brampton City Councillor Toor expressed dissatisfaction with the bail system, citing a perceived erosion of public safety. The community's apprehensions were further heightened by Thind's social media activity, which Chief Nishan Duraiappah of the Peel Regional Police acknowledged as part of a broader and complex investigation into extortion cases targeting South Asian-owned businesses.
