Karan Defaulter, accused of killing kabaddi promoter, dies after dramatic escape and six-hour manhunt
A 23-year-old man accused of being the main shooter in the murder of kabaddi promoter Rana Balachauria was killed in a police encounter Tuesday morning, just hours after escaping from custody. The encounter marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has gripped the region since the victim’s death in December 2025.
The Encounter
The encounter took place around 7 AM near the cricket stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, close to Rurki Kham village on Airport Road. The 30-minute gunfight left Karan Pathak, alias Karan Defaulter, critically wounded. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
According to police officials, Karan opened fire first with a .30 bore pistol, discharging 6 to 7 rounds at officers before police retaliated with approximately 9 rounds. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohali Harmandeep Singh Hans confirmed the incident at the scene.
Daring Escape from Custody
The encounter came just seven hours after Karan’s dramatic escape from police custody. The accused was in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Agency when he was being transported for recovery of the murder weapon. As the police vehicle travelled through fog-covered roads, it struck a divider.
Karan then claimed to be suffering from chest pain and was taken to Kharar hospital. During the transport, he attacked police officer Jaspinder with his handcuffs and managed to escape. The injured officer was treated for his wounds, while an FIR was registered at Kharar police station regarding the escape.
Police teams from Mohali, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, and Ropar range were immediately mobilized to search for the fugitive. After learning he was spotted in the Mullanpur area, the CIA team set up a cordon that led to the fatal encounter. Investigators are currently working to identify who assisted Karan after his escape.
The Original Murder
Rana Balachauria, a prominent kabaddi promoter, was shot dead on December 15, 2025, during a kabaddi tournament in Sohana, Mohali. The shooting occurred during the sporting event, killing him instantly.
Police investigations revealed that Karan Pathak, a resident of Nimal Mandi in Amritsar originally from Uttar Pradesh, fired at Balachauria alongside another accomplice, Aditya alias Makhan. The conspiracy to commit the murder was hatched in October 2025 by individuals working under instructions from notorious gangsters Balwinder Singh alias Donny Bal and Amarjit Singh alias Khabba, who are based abroad.
The Network Behind the Murder
Police have arrested three main accused in connection with the killing. Apart from Karan, the other arrested suspects are:
Tarandeep Singh (25), from Barewal village in Ludhiana, played a crucial role by positioning himself with a motorcycle at the crime scene, facilitating the shooters’ escape after the incident.
Sukhsherpal Singh, alias Akash Uppal (22), from Uppal village in Tarn Taran, was instrumental in planning the conspiracy and conducting reconnaissance. Investigations revealed he is a relative of gangster Amarjit Singh alias Khabba.
Prior to Karan’s killing, the gang had evaded arrest by fleeing to Kolkata following the murder. The accused had stayed in various hotels across Chandigarh, Kalka, Zirakpur, and Kharar while conducting surveillance of the target area.
Ongoing Investigation
The police have already apprehended several other members of the alleged criminal network, including Ashdeep Singh from Tarn Taran, Jugraj Singh alias Jagga from Amritsar, Mandeep Singh alias Mota from Amritsar, Devinder Singh alias Tinka from Panchkula, and Gagandeep Singh alias Karan Sohal from Jalandhar. Harwinder Singh alias Middi from Tarn Taran was killed in an earlier police encounter in Lalru.
However, the hunt continues for key suspect Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan, the other shooter in Balachauria’s murder, and several of his associates. Police teams are conducting continuous raids across the region to track them down.
SSP Hans confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and authorities are working to uncover the complete network behind the murder and the criminal operations run by the gangsters orchestrating the killing from abroad.
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