Darshan Singh Sahsi, the 68-year-old Indian-origin businessman killed in a targeted shooting in Canada, was not only known for his clothing recycling empire but also for his outspoken stand against Punjab’s drug menace
Punjabi-origin businessman Darshan Singh Sahsi, who was shot dead in a targeted attack in British Columbia, Canada, had long been a powerful voice against the drug epidemic among Punjabi youth — an issue he called a “moral collapse” within the community, reported hindustantimes.com.
In a 2016 memorial speech for his nephew, who had died of drug addiction, Sahsi openly broke community silence. “I don’t want to hide the truth. My nephew has died of drug addiction,” he declared before a packed gurdwara congregation in his native Rajgarh village near Doraha, Punjab.
At the time, politicians had offered routine condolences without acknowledging the drug issue. But Sahsi spoke bluntly, linking addiction to the erosion of moral and educational values.
“Something has gone wrong with Punjabi culture… Moral degradation and collapse of the education system have birthed a generation that does not know how to live with sanjam (patience),” he told Hindustan Times.
He also noted that the drug problem extended beyond India: “We carry this with us — even in Canada.”
In his 45-minute address, Sahsi urged parents to act before it was too late:
“Only parents and family can curb this menace. Don’t run after money! Save your kids. Educate them.”
The slain businessman once said he had ‘lived the dream abroad but failed to save his child’, warning of moral decline in Punjabi society
Gang links denied by family after killing
Nine years later, Sahsi was gunned down outside his home in Abbotsford on October 28, 2025. Reports claimed that Canada-based gangster Goldy Dhillon, linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, took responsibility for the murder on Facebook, alleging Sahsi’s involvement in the drug trade — claims the family has strongly denied.
Sahsi’s son told The Indian Express, “My father never received any threat or extortion call. He was a man who gave back to society. No one benefits from his death.”
The Bishnoi gang, recently declared a terror entity in Canada, has been linked to multiple high-profile attacks on Punjabi celebrities, including incidents involving AP Dhillon, Gippy Grewal, and Kapil Sharma’s café in British Columbia.
From brick kiln owner to global entrepreneur
Before migrating to Canada in 1991, Darshan Sahsi owned a brick kiln in Rajgarh village and later recycling facilities in Kandla (Gujarat) and Panipat (Haryana). In Canada, he founded Canam International, now one of the world’s largest clothing recycling companies.
A respected philanthropist, he supported Punjabi Sahit Akademi in Ludhiana, promoting Punjabi language and heritage, and remained deeply connected to his homeland.
According to Abbotsford Police, officers responded to a shooting report at 9:20 a.m. local time, finding Sahsi fatally shot near his SUV. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities describing it as a targeted attack.
