NIA charges Pakistani gangster, local aide in Jalandhar grenade attack case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against two accused, including Pakistan-based gangster Shehzad Bhatti , in connection with last year’s grenade attack on YouTuber Roger Sandhu’s residence in Punjab’s Jalandhar.

According to officials, Bhatti has been named as an absconder , while the second accused, Dipander Pratap Singh , has been arrested and identified as a key local operative in the case. The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court.

The incident occurred in the early hours of March 16, 2025 , when a grenade was hurled at Sandhu’s house in Raipur Rasoolpur village in Jalandhar district. No casualties were reported, but the attack triggered panic and raised concerns over the growing nexus between gangsters and terror networks .

The case was initially registered by the Punjab Police, which had chargesheeted nine individuals during its investigation. However, the probe was later handed over to the NIA in December, citing possible cross-border terror links .

The NIA investigation has revealed that Bhatti masterminded the attack from abroad, allegedly as part of a larger terror conspiracy involving multiple modules engaged in targeted killings, recruitment, and arms smuggling into India.

Officials said Bhatti used encrypted communication channels to coordinate with operatives on the ground. Dipander Pratap Singh, alias Deepan Rana, played a crucial logistical role , facilitating the attackers and handling illegal arms and explosives .

So far, ten accused have been arrested , while seven others, including Bhatti, remain absconding . The NIA is continuing its efforts to track down the fugitives and dismantle the wider terror network linked to the attack.

The agency stated that further investigation is underway to identify additional modules and prevent similar attacks in the future.