Canada’s Largest Gold Heist: Simran Preet Panesar, Suspect Of Project 24Karat, Found Living In Chandigarh, Says Report

Simran Preet Panesar, a former Air Canada manager wanted in connection with Canada’s largest gold heist, has been found living with his family on the outskirts of Chandigarh, according to The Indian Express.

On April 17, 2023, an air cargo container carrying more than 22 million Canadian dollars (over USD 20 million) in gold bars and foreign currency was stolen from a secure storage facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Peel Regional Police reported that the container had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland, and was removed using fraudulent paperwork.

In the aftermath of the heist, authorities arrested several individuals, including Indian-origin suspects Archit Grover, Parmpal Sidhu, and Amit Jalota, as well as Ammad Chaudhary, Ali Raza, and Prasath Paramalingam. However, two key suspects, Simran Preet Panesar, 31, from Brampton, and Arsalan Chaudhary from Mississauga, remained at large. Panesar, who was employed as an Air Canada manager at the time of the theft, was reported to have facilitated a tour of the storage facility for police after the robbery. While Sidhu was arrested in May 2024, Panesar had already left Canada by then.

In July 2024, Panesar’s lawyer, Greg Lafontaine, informed CBC that his client was preparing to surrender, stating that Panesar was “very confident in the Canadian justice system.” Lafontaine further asserted, “When this prosecution is over, he will have been absolved of any wrongdoing.”

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Gold Heist Accused Evades Arrest

Despite a Canada-wide warrant against him, Panesar has been leading a normal life in Chandigarh. Reports indicate that he resides with his wife and family in a rented accommodation. He has refused to comment publicly due to legal reasons, while his neighbours have been led to believe that his financial dispute in Canada has been settled.

Meanwhile, Peel Regional Police continue their probe under ‘Project 24Karat.’ Official documents indicate that investigators have dedicated more than 28,096 hours to the case, including 9,500 overtime hours. Authorities believe that Panesar and Sidhu used their insider positions at the warehouse to orchestrate the high-profile theft.

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