Father of murdered hip hop star Sidhu Moose Wala says investigation is moving too slowly
One year on from the death of Punjabi hip hop star Sidhu Moose Wala, his father says he is destroyed by his son’s killing.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Mr Singh says he has not been able to heal from the pain of losing his only child.
Sidhu Moose Wala was a global icon who released more than 60 singles and became a household name in Punjab and among the diaspora Sikh population in the UK and Canada.
His father is currently in the UK working on creating a permanent tribute to the Punjabi hip hop star.
We met in Kent, deciding to chat at the local gurdwara where the family, including Sidhu, would often visit.
The detailed stonework and delicate wood carvings of Gravesend’s Gurdwara are beautiful. It created a peaceful sanctuary for our conversation with Mr Singh.
He clearly felt at ease in this place of prayer, nodding and stopping to talk with a number of people who recognised him as we wandered through the cloisters.
We climbed the white marble staircase to find a spot to chat away from the congregation.
We met in the week before the anniversary of Moose Wala’s death.
“I felt completely cut up,” Mr Singh told me.
“I was lost. When a child from a simple family is taken away from the world in this way, then it would absolutely destroy you.”
Moose Wala – whose real name Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu – was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on 29 May last year in Mansa, Punjab.
The day before, it had been publicly announced that his state security would be slimmed down by Punjab’s new government to redirect resources.
Sidhu Moose Wala (left) with his father Balkaur Singh. Pic: Instagram / @sardarbalkaursidhu
‘Death threats’
The family says the timing was suspicious and now feel that their lives are in danger too.
“We come from an honest, hardworking family, but yet still my only child is killed in a way that you wouldn’t even kill an animal,” Mr Singh said.
“What safety do we have? Every other day I receive a death threat. What have I done wrong? Should I not be seeking justice for my son? Something that is in my right to do.”
The perceived lack of progress in the investigation is a source of anger for Mr Singh, who is exhausted in his fight for justice.
The case is ‘going so slow’
“The saddest thing about this all is that the case is going so slow and I want to emphasise to your viewers around the world, that if the case carries on with the same pace, I will die and then there will be no justice for my son.”
So far 27 people have been jailed for their part in the murder and the investigation is ongoing.
Sky News contacted the Punjab police and state government for an update regarding the murder investigation but received no response.
Moose Wala started his musical journey in 2016.
After studying engineering, he moved to Canada where hundreds of thousands of Sikhs have emigrated.
Moose Wala enjoyed riding on a tractor during his free time
The rapper was renowned for fusing modern hip-hop and classic Punjabi music, which connected Punjabi audiences across borders.
As Moose Wala’s career progressed, his songs became more socially, culturally and politically conscious.
He made history when he became the first singer from India to perform at Wireless Festival in 2021.
Guns and tractors
But his music had been controversial.
He had an affinity for guns, which would sometimes feature in his music videos and on his social media platforms. But his father tells Sky News, this portrayal is far from the accurate version of his son.
“After Sidhu’s death, wrong accusations have been made against him. He was a well-known celebrity in the world. They are trying to tarnish his image.
“Despite being such a huge celebrity, he was a down to earth guy.
“He even wrote in his songs that he had no interest in going to clubs and pubs, but instead would always go out with his tractor to the fields when he was free.”
Moose Wala. Pic: Instagram / @sardarbalkaursidhu
The family didn’t come to Gravesend often, but had a base here where family and friends would welcome them with open arms.
We were shown where Moose Wala and his family would stay when in the UK.
His bed is still made
The singer’s bed is still made. They haven’t moved his belongings since his last visit in September 2021 just months before his life was cut short.
“That’s where he’d play on the PlayStation,” Mr Singh tells me.
His friends bring out his harmonium: “This is what he’d use to practise his music here,” says his father.
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Sidhu Moose Wala: Punjabi singer and rapper shot dead
It was a private place that Mr Singh wanted to show us even though it was clearly a painful reminder of his son not being here.
“I don’t come into this room a lot.
“It brings back past memories and feelings when I’m in this room.”
“I get a lump in my throat, so I can’t sit here for too long.”
He is the father of a man once dubbed one of India’s most forceful musical exports, but behind this celebrity tragedy is simply a father desperate for answers.
Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.
The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.
Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.
Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”
As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.
“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.
Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA
Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.
Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.
Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.
Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.
Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.
At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.
Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.
L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group
Four siblings struck by cancer
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.
After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.
The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.
The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock
They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.
But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.
The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.
Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.
Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’
TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”
“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”
Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.
The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.
A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.
James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.
“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.
“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.
“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.
“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.
“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”
Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA
Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.
He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.
“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.
“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”
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As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.
The new multi-millionaire holds up bespoke Manchester City kit celebrating his win. Pic: PA
He said: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed.
“We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”
Mr Clarkson played on the National Lottery app, choosing his winning numbers – 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35 – at random.
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