Simran Preet Panesar, an Indian-origin former Air Canada manager who has been on the run in connection with Canada’s largest gold and cash heist, has been traced to the outskirts of Chandigarh.
Panesar was wanted in relation to the theft of gold and foreign currency worth 22.5 million Canadian dollars from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
The heist: A sophisticated operation
On April 17, 2023, an air cargo container carrying 6,600 bars of .9999 pure gold, weighing 400 kg and valued at over 20 million CAD, along with 2.5 million CAD in foreign currency, was stolen from a secure storage facility at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
The stolen cargo had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland, and was offloaded to a separate holding location within airport premises.
The thieves executed the heist using forged documents, allowing them to gain access to the cargo. However, the disappearance of the shipment was not reported to the police until the following day, giving the perpetrators ample time to cover their tracks.
In the aftermath of the heist, Canadian authorities launched a massive investigation, which led to the arrest of six individuals: Archit Grover, Parmpal Sidhu, Amit Jalota, Ammad Chaudhary, Ali Raza, and Prasath Paramalingam.
However, two key suspects, Simran Preet Panesar from Brampton and Arsalan Chaudhary from Mississauga, managed to evade capture, leading to Canada-wide warrants being issued against them.
Authorities also recovered a portion of the stolen valuables, seizing one kg of gold worth approximately 89,000 CAD, smelting equipment, and around 434,000 CAD in cash during their investigation.
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Tracking Panesar to Chandigarh
In an investigative collaboration between The Indian Express and CBC News: The Fifth Estate, Panesar was found living in a rented residence on the outskirts of Chandigarh with his family. His wife, Preety Panesar, a former Miss India Uganda and a singer-actor, was also residing with him.
Despite being a fugitive, Panesar was reported to be living a relatively normal life. When approached by journalists from The Indian Express, he declined to comment officially, citing legal and safety concerns.
Failed surrender and uncertain future
There were reports indicating that Panesar had intended to surrender to the authorities in June 2023, but this never transpired. His current legal standing remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether Canadian or Indian authorities will take further action regarding his extradition or arrest.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies in Canada and India are closely monitoring the situation, seeking justice in one of the most high-profile gold heists in Canadian history.
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