Bindy Johal's chilling last recorded words, "You got another thing coming. I'm still around," echo in the annals of Canadian crime history like an eerie prophecy that reverberates even today. He was BC's infamous gangster (some would say prodigy), a figure of fascination and fear and a poster boy for gang violence.
But who exactly was this enigmatic figure, and why, nearly two decades later does Canada still remember him so vividly?
On this page, you’ll find:
Who Was BC Gangster Bindy Johal? Early Life
Bindy Johal (Bhupinder Singh Johal) was a drug-trafficker amd notorious gangster in BC, Canada, during the 1990s. His tale is likened to a startup that scaled too fast: explosive, headline-grabbing, but doomed.
He was born on April 14, 1971, in Punjab, India, and later immigrated to Canada, where he became associated with a wave of gang-related violence in the Lower Mainland.
His family immigrated to East Van, Canada, on January 14, 1971. He was the son of a mill worker and a secretary, and his childhood seemed relatively uneventful. Yet, by the time he reached adolescence, a transformation had begun.
Rob Sandhu, a teacher at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary, recalled Johal's transition from an ordinary boy to someone rebellious and confrontational. At Sir Charles Tupper, he came into contact with Faizal Dean, a member of the Los Diablos street gang and this association would act as a catalyst for Johal's entry into Vancouver's criminal scene.
The Punjabi Mafia Gang
Johal was an integral part of the Punjabi Mafia gang, a group that surged in notoriety in Vancouver during the dawn of the 1990s.
The Punjabi Mafia established its presence in trafficking cocaine, heroin, and marijuana and has also been connected to the production of synthetic narcotics, including fentanyl.
Bindy's crimes, whether it was selling drugs, his escapades with women, or his penchant for lavishly blowing money, were hard to ignore. His notoriety peaked in 1995, when he walked free from what was one of the most media-crazed trials in the country where he was acquitted for the infamous murders of the Dulay brothers.
BC Gangsters: The Crimes Of Bindy Johal
Drug Trafficking: In a 2017 crackdown, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confiscated 70 kgs of cocaine and uncovered $2 million in cash believed to be connected to the Punjabi Mafia's operations.
His criminal zenith was marked in 1997, characterized by a particularly chilling act:
Killing in cold blood: Johal and his gang were behind the brutal murder of Gurpreet Singh Sohi, an associate of a rival faction.
The net of justice began tightening around Johal, leading to his apprehension in 1994, slapped with a slew of charges.
The Air India Trial: This protracted trial, spanning from 1995 to 1997, revolved around accusations against Johal for orchestrating a massive drug syndicate that facilitated heroin and cocaine influx from Asia. As the trial unraveled, another grim act linked to Johal came to light:
Bombing: Evidence emerged linking Johal and his group to the act of planting a lethal explosive in a car. The explosion tragically claimed the life of a woman, mistakenly believed to be the real target.
Even when cornered by damning evidence, Johal maintained a stoic denial of his involvement in these acts until his life was cut short in a gangland execution in 1998. Yet, his brush with the law had another chapter in 1994:
Murder Of Ron Dosanjh: Johal was implicated in the assassination of Ron Dosanjh, an investigative journalist who was looking into the Punjabi Mafia's affairs. Dosanjh met his end outside his downtown Vancouver workspace, peppered with bullets. Despite the suspicions, the case against Johal weakened and eventually crumbled due to insufficient evidence.
Los Diablos and the Dosanjh Brothers
Initially dominated by Spanish-speaking members in the 1960s, by the late 1980s, Los Diablos evolved to include those of South Asian descent. At its helm were the Dosanjh brothers, Ron and Jimmy.
While Ron masterminded their operations, Jimmy played the enforcer and torturer, and together, they controlled narcotics distribution across the city.
Bindy, as one of their dealers, saw firsthand the power and respect the underworld could offer.
1991 saw a seismic shift in power when Jimmy Dosanjh's arrest for murder weakened the Dosanjh brothers' hold. Sensing an opportunity, Johal, along with Dean, began their own narcotics hustle. This strategic move saw even some of the members of Los Diablos even join them.
BC Gang Rivalry: Did Johal Kill Sanjay Narain?
The rivalry between the two gangs was punctuated by the violent death of Parminder Chana - this murder was allegedly orchestrated by Dean (Johal's gang partner) and an associate, Rajinder Benji.
Chana's sad end, followed by the suicide of his lover (Benji's sister) drew significant media attention. A crucial witness to Chana's murder, Sanjay Narain, was killed in what many believed was an attempt by Johal to silence him. This murder not only terrified potential witnesses but also elevated Johal's infamy to new heights.
BC gangsters: Bindy Johal's Media Circus
After being released from prison, Jimmy Dosanjh yearned to reclaim his lost territory and ordered a hit on Bindy.
In an incredible countermove, Johal persuaded the hitman to betray Dosanjh instead, leading to Jimmy's assassination.
The audacity of the act and Johal's alleged involvement made him a celebrity sensation. Ron Dosanjh's murder inflamed the gang war with retaliatory violence becoming the order of the day.
Johal's Legal Battles and a Scandal
The culmination of these events led to Johal's arrest and a sensational trial, where he and his associates were charged with the Dosanjh brothers' murders.
But the trial took a scandalous turn, In an amazing stroke of luck for Johal - it emerged that a juror (Gillian Guess), was involved in a romantic relationship with co-accused Peter Gill. This tainted the verdict and resulted in Johal's acquittal and further trials on obstruction charges.
The Final Acts of Bindy Johal
Post-acquittal, Johal continued to terrorize the Vancouver scene, being implicated in the stabbing at a strip club and several drive-by shootings.
Johal's reign was not to last. A dispute over diluted cocaine with a teenager named Randy Chan would set the stage for Johal's downfall.
How Did Bindy Johal Die?
With rumors swirling about his unconventional methods (like dispatching minions to charm jurors or firing his gun in public) it seemed Bindy had an air of invincibility about him. He wasn't just a gangster; he was a cultural phenomenon who drew both fascination and dread.
But Bindy's meteoric rise was matched only by the swiftness of his fall. In 1999, at just 27, his life was brutally snuffed out with a bullet to the back of his head at the Palladium nightclub in Vancouver.
Despite the presence of over 300 potential eyewitnesses, no one came forward to point out the killer.
How Much Money did Bindy Johal Make?
At the height of his criminal activities, Johal reportedly raked in an estimated $500,000 to $900,000 weekly from a range of illicit dealings like assassination contracts, debt collection and drug trafficking. He also had ties with the Buttar brothers who were renowned in the Lower Mainland for their violent gang-related executions.
Today, the shadows of Bindy's legacy linger. The South Asian organized crime scene in British Columbia remains as active as ever, a grim testament to the allure of the underworld and the mark Bindy Johal left behind.