A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited the Central Modern Jail in Faridkot on Monday and interrogated Maninder Singh, alias Bobby, for nearly two hours. He is an accused in the grenade attack on the residence of Jalandhar-based social media influencer Navdeep Singh, alias Roger Sandhu. Maninder Singh has been lodged in the Faridkot jail for some time after being shifted from Jalandhar district.
Interrogation details and security measures
The NIA team, which arrived from Chandigarh, questioned the accused under tight security on the jail premises. The interrogation covered several key aspects of the case, including the conspiracy behind the attack, the network of associates involved, and the role of alleged handlers operating from abroad. Sources said the agency gathered detailed information on the planning of the attack, the network utilised, and the roles played by other accused.
Investigation progress and arrests
Based on inputs obtained during the interrogation, the NIA is now preparing to advance its investigation further. Maninder Singh, a resident of Alichak village in Jalandhar, was arrested by the Jalandhar rural police from the Chandigarh airport in March 2025. Seven accused have been arrested in the case so far. The investigation was initially conducted by the Punjab Police but was handed over to the NIA after the name of Pakistan-based don Shahzad Bhatti surfaced during the probe.
Maninder Singh's criminal record
According to police records, Maninder Singh faces 11 criminal cases, including charges of murder, attempt-to-murder, and violations of the Arms Act. He was shifted to Faridkot’s Central Modern Jail about two months ago. The NIA's interrogation aims to uncover the broader conspiracy and the international links of the accused.
