Edmonton man kidnapped and taken to Calgary as bait in attempted South Asian extortion

Five men have been charged in what Calgary police are calling an elaborate extortion scheme targeting the South Asian community.

Last Wednesday evening, investigators say a man was kidnapped from a home in Edmonton by four men after being assaulted and threatened at gunpoint.

The victim was forced into a vehicle that was then driven from Edmonton to Calgary.

According to police, the suspect drove the victim to his friend’s home in the northeast community of Cityscape, where there were more suspects and vehicles staged.

Investigators say the suspects were trying to get the kidnapped man to lure his friend out of the home; that friend was the intended extortion target.

The victim refused and was again assaulted.

While the suspects remained outside the house, the victim’s friend and his wife tried to leave. Police say they were followed and threatened with a gun before going back inside their home, where they called the police.

Shortly after, police found a vehicle that was thought to involved and conducted a traffic stop near Metis Trail and 104 Avenue NE.

Two men were arrested during the stop for their involvement in the Cityscape incident. However, that incident had been yet to reported to police.

The remaining suspects drove the kidnapping victim back to Edmonton where he was released near his home early the next morning.

When he was released, the victim contacted police to report he’d been kidnapped.

On May 12, with the help of the CPS Tactical Team, investigators found two more suspects and conducted a traffic stop on Martindale Boulevard NE, where they were arrested.

In total, four men have been arrested and charged in relation to this incident, and a fifth man is wanted on warrants.

Police believe more suspects were involved and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Taranveer Singh, 24, of Calgary, and Daksh Gautam, 25, of Calgary, are each charged with two counts of pointing a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, kidnapping with a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault.

Akashdeep Singh, 18, of Calgary, and Pardeep Singh, 24, of Calgary, are each charged with kidnapping with a firearm, pointing a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault.

Gagandeep Singh, 29, of Calgary, is wanted on warrants for kidnapping with a firearm, pointing a firearm, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, and assault.

Gagandeep Singh has tattoos of a woman on his right forearm and a blue and red eagle on his left forearm. Police say he has connections to Calgary, Ontario, and B.C.

Since April 2025, there have been 45 extortion-related incidents in Calgary. Nineteen of the incident involved shootings at homes, businesses, or vehicles.

To date, 11 individuals have been charged in relation to the incidents in Calgary.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234 or tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers.