Towing Scam Targeting South Asians: Peel Police bust Brampton-based crime ring involved in extortion, staged collisions, and insurance fraud under Project Outsource
Canada’s Peel Regional Police (PRP) have arrested 18 individuals — including several of Indian origin — in connection with a large-scale organised crime ring operating in the towing industry. Based in Brampton, the network primarily targeted South Asian business owners and has been under investigation since 2024 as part of Project Outsource, reported indiatoday.in.
The criminal group allegedly engaged in extortion, staged vehicle collisions, and insurance fraud using violent tactics such as arson, threats, and drive-by shootings. PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the operation was launched following a surge in violence and threats directed at South Asian entrepreneurs.
$4.2 million in assets seized as PRP cracks down on violent extortion racket targeting South Asian community; 97 charges filed.
Arrested individuals include Inderjit Dhami (38), Paritosh Chopra (32), Gurbinder Singh (28), Kulwinder Puri (25), Parminder Puri (31), Inderjit Bal (29), Varun Aul (31), Ketan Chopra (30), Pawandeep Singh (25), Dipanshu Garg (24), Rahul Verma (27), Karan Boparai (26), Mankirat Boparai (22), Simar Boparai (21), Jovan Singh (23), and Abhinav Bhardwaj (25). A woman from King City was also among those arrested.
The group allegedly operated under the names Certified Roadside and Humble Roadside, using the businesses as a front to conduct staged collisions and threaten competitors. Investigators confiscated 18 tow trucks worth CAD $2.8 million, four luxury vehicles worth CAD $840,000, and five stolen vehicles valued at CAD $571,000. Additionally, authorities recovered six firearms, nearly 600 rounds of ammunition, two bulletproof vests, a taser, crossbow, and other weapons.
Out of the 18 individuals arrested, three were released with future court dates, while 15 remain in custody pending bail hearings. Notably, nearly half of them were already on conditional release for prior offenses.
Last month, three Indian-origin men were arrested after opening fire inside a Brampton business in a suspected extortion attempt. In a separate incident, 51-year-old Indo-Canadian businessman Harjeet Dhadda, originally from Uttarakhand, was fatally shot in Mississauga on May 14 after repeated extortion threats.
As the investigation progresses, police expect more arrests and charges under Project Outsource, which continues to uncover layers of organised crime embedded in the region’s towing and insurance sectors.
