Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Calgary Police Service has laid multiple charges against five men in connection with a violent extortion and kidnapping case that investigators say marks a serious escalation in an ongoing extortion series targeting Calgary’s South Asian community. According to police, the incident began between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, when a man was allegedly kidnapped from a residence in Edmonton by four suspects. The victim was reportedly assaulted, threatened with a firearm, and forced into a vehicle before being driven from Edmonton to Calgary.
Investigators say the suspects then travelled to a residence in the northeast Calgary community of Cityscape, where additional suspects and vehicles had been staged. Police allege the kidnappers attempted to force the victim to lure his friend the intended extortion target out of his home. When the victim refused, he was assaulted again. While suspects remained outside the Cityscape residence, the targeted victim and his wife attempted to leave their home but were allegedly followed and threatened with a firearm. The couple managed to flee back inside their residence and contacted police. Shortly afterward, officers located one of the suspect vehicles near Métis Trail and 104 Avenue N.E. and conducted a traffic stop. Two men were arrested at the scene for their involvement in the Calgary incident, although the original Edmonton kidnapping had not yet been reported to police.
Police say the remaining suspects drove the kidnapping victim back to Edmonton, where he was released near his residence early the next morning. After being freed, the victim contacted authorities and reported the kidnapping.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, investigators with assistance from the CPS Tactical Team conducted another traffic stop in the 600 block of Martindale Boulevard N.E., leading to the arrest of two additional suspects. During the investigation, officers also seized a privately manufactured firearm. Four Calgary men have now been charged in connection with the case. Taranveer Singh, 24, and Daksh Gautam, 25, face charges including kidnapping with a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, assault, pointing a firearm, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Akashdeep Singh, 18, and Pardeep Singh, 24, have also been charged with kidnapping with a firearm, pointing a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault.
Meanwhile, police have issued warrants for Gagandeep Singh, 29, of Calgary, who is wanted on similar charges. Investigators say he has connections to Calgary, Ontario, and British Columbia. Police described him as having tattoos of a woman on his right forearm and a blue and red eagle on his left forearm.
“This is a significant escalation in violence in the extortion incidents that we have seen in Calgary so far,” said Superintendent Jeff Bell of the CPS Criminal Operations & Intelligence Division. “Since this series began, we have been working very closely with our policing partners nationally to share information and co-ordinate our response, which allowed us to quickly make arrests in this case.”
Police also thanked the Edmonton Police Service and the Canada Border Services Agency for their assistance in the investigation. Authorities say there have been 45 extortion-related incidents reported in Calgary since April 2025, including 19 shootings targeting homes, businesses, and vehicles. To date, 11 individuals have been charged in relation to the ongoing extortion series.
