LGBTQ influencer Mad Sandhu, 29, was shot dead outside an Amritsar car wash. Police dismissed viral gang claims as the investigation continues.
Punjabi influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu was waiting for his car outside a car wash in Amritsar, India, when two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire. The 29-year-old was killed in the October 3 attack. As claims of responsibility circulated online, police rejected the viral posts as unauthentic.
The shooting happened around 6 p.m. on Loharka Road. According to police accounts reported by The Indian Express, the attackers fired two to three rounds before fleeing. Sandhu was taken to a private hospital but did not survive.
Police Reject Viral Gang Claims
In an update reported by The Times of India on October 5, Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said social media posts purporting to claim the killing on behalf of gangsters were unauthentic. Investigators had not established a motive.
Sandhu had previously faced online abuse and objections from religious groups over his appearance and content. Police said no connection had been established between those earlier disputes and his murder.
Special teams have been assigned to identify the attackers. Sandhu was cremated on October 4, after a post-mortem examination and the release of his body to his family.
A Career Built Around Makeup and Self-Expression
Known online as Mad Sandhu, Madhu Sudan had built an Instagram audience of roughly 240,000, according to The Indian Express. His work extended beyond his social feeds: he founded Mane Lane Unisex Salon in Amritsar and ran beauty academies teaching everything from personal makeup techniques to professional bridal artistry.
He also spoke about makeup and gender on podcasts and openly discussed being gay. His visibility attracted persistent homophobic trolling, alongside followers who admired his creativity, technical skill, and personal style.
Police registered a case after recording the family's statement. Investigators have been examining CCTV footage from the service station and surrounding area, along with phone records and other digital evidence, The Tribune reported. Officers said they had leads as the search for the gunmen continued.