Sgt. Gurdeep Panaich, is among four Brampton men, including Inderjit “Vick” Bains, Zorawar Mahal and Surjit Brar, as well as a Caledon man Rajkanwar Mangat, who are all facing criminal charges including extortion, criminal harassment and obstruct justice. York Regional Police confirmed that Panaich is a sergeant for the service and that he has been suspended.
TORONTO – A York Regional Police sergeant is among the five Indo-Canadian men arrested after a Peel police extortion plot investigation.
Sgt. Gurdeep Panaich, 39, is among four Brampton men, including Inderjit “Vick” Bains, 46, Zorawar Mahal, 25, and Surjit Brar, 46, who are all facing criminal charges including extortion, criminal harassment and obstruct justice.
York Regional Police, who spell Panaich’s first name “Gurdip,” confirmed that Panaich is a sergeant for the service and that he has been suspended.
A Caledon man Rajkanwar Mangat, 39, is facing two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, four counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition, two counts of careless storage of a firearm, four counts of breaching firearms regulations and two counts of possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.
Peel police began an investigation in February after Brampton real-estate salesman Dale Mundi told police that “false information that was detrimental to his personal and professional reputation” was being spread online. Mundi said he had been asked for “a large sum of money” to have the information taken down.
After investigating, police executed a search warrant at a house in Caledon and seized a number of loaded and insecure guns.
All five are expected to appear in court on April 2.
Panaich joined the force in 2001 as a uniformed patrol officer before being assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit, the Mental Health Support Team and the Major Case Management Unit and was most recently stationed in Markham.
Panaich has won awards for his work, including one for an investigation into a forged passport lab and a Chief of Police Award for supporting of a wounded American officer. In 2013, York Regional Police awarded him an Excellence in Policing Award.
Peel police said that the extortion investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-3311 ext. 2133.
