Who Is Mad Sandhu? Punjabi Influencer Shot Dead In Amritsar

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Mad Sandhu had gone to collect his car from a washing centre when two men on a motorcycle opened fire. It was around 6 pm on Saturday, 3 October, on Loharka Road in Amritsar. Sandhu, the Punjabi makeup artist and social media influencer followed by more than 200,000 people on Instagram, died while being taken to hospital.

The killing has stunned Punjab's beauty, fashion and creator circles. Police say the motive is yet to be established.

Photo Credit: Instagram: @its_madsandhuofficial

The Man Behind The Colourful Shirts

Sandhu's full name was Madhusudan. He was around 30 years old and the son of a retired Punjab Police sub-inspector, according to Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill. He built his following on a distinctive look of bright shirts and sunglasses, and had also acted in the Punjabi film Oye Bhole Oye.

Beyond Instagram, he was associated with a unisex salon and beauty academies in Amritsar. He had appeared on several podcasts, speaking about makeup, the film industry and gender issues. Openly gay, he had become a prominent LGBTQ+ voice in the state.

"God Has Made Me The Way I Am"

Prominence came with a price. Sandhu faced repeated trolling over his identity and appearance, and once told an interviewer, "God has made me the way I am."

He had also recently faced objections from a Nihang group over some of his clothing and older videos, and later apologised. Police have not confirmed any link between that episode and his murder.

What Police Have Said So Far

Prabhjot Singh Virk, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation), Amritsar Commissionerate, said an FIR had been registered and the family's statements recorded. "We have leads," he said. Multiple teams have been formed to trace the attackers. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence.

A social media post attributed to Goldy Dhillon and Jagga Tarn Taran has claimed responsibility. Police have not confirmed the claim, and the motive remains unclear. Punjab Police's cyber wing has since shut down dozens of social media accounts that expressed support for the violence.

A Killing That Has Turned Political

The murder has already entered the political arena. Senior Congress leader Rajkumar Verka accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of letting law and order collapse, saying shots were being fired in broad daylight in Amritsar. It has also heightened safety concerns among LGBTQ+ and lifestyle influencers in Punjab, who often face online threats.

It began as an ordinary errand: a car, a washing centre, a Saturday evening. Until investigators establish who fired the shots and why, claims about motive, whether from online posts or political podiums, remain just that. What is certain is that a young creator who spoke openly about who he was is dead, and that Punjab is waiting for answers.