NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Seattle, WA, September 18, 2025: A 71-year-old US citizen of Indian origin who had traveled to Punjab in July to marry a 75-year-old UK-based non-resident Indian (NRI) has been found murdered, police confirmed this week.
The victim, identified as Rupinder Kaur Pandher, was a long-time resident of Seattle, Washington. She arrived in Ludhiana earlier this summer to marry Charanjit Singh Grewal, a UK-based NRI. Shortly after her arrival, Pandher went missing. Her family in the United States grew concerned when they were unable to reach her by phone on July 24. Her sister reported the disappearance, and the US Embassy in New Delhi alerted local authorities. An FIR was lodged in August.
Investigators say Pandher was allegedly killed at the behest of Grewal. According to police, Grewal conspired with Sukhjeet Singh, also known as Sonu, a typist at the local courts in Ludhiana. Singh has been arrested and, according to police, confessed to the crime.
Authorities allege that Singh bludgeoned Pandher with a baseball bat before attempting to destroy evidence. Her body was reportedly burnt using coal in a storeroom, dismembered, and placed in gunny bags that were dumped in a nearby drain. Partial skeletal remains have since been recovered.
Police further claim that Grewal offered Singh ₹50 lakh and the promise of a life abroad in exchange for carrying out the killing. Investigators allege that Pandher had already transferred a significant sum of money to Grewal before traveling to India.
Charanjit Singh Grewal, named as a co-accused, remains at large. Police believe he has returned to the United Kingdom and are working to trace him.
The case has drawn international attention because of the victim’s US citizenship and the accused’s overseas residence. The cross-border financial transactions and Grewal’s current location may complicate the investigation and any possible extradition.
Family members in the US had repeatedly tried to reach Pandher before learning of her disappearance. Her sister, Kamal Kaur Khairah, raised the alarm when Pandher’s phone was switched off, which eventually led to the involvement of Indian police and the US Embassy.
