Amritsar, October 3, 2026: Popular makeup artist, stylist and social media influencer Mad Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan Sandhu, was shot dead in Amritsar on Friday evening. The incident took place on Loharka Road at around 6 pm.

According to police, two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at Mad Sandhu. Police said he sustained two bullet injuries and was found lying on the road in a pool of blood.

A video from the scene also went viral on social media, showing Mad Sandhu lying on the road while people nearby attempted to lift and help him.

He was taken to hospital but died on the way. Some reports have mentioned Fortis Hospital.

Police recovered two empty cartridges from the spot. An FIR has been registered and teams have been formed to investigate the killing. CCTV footage from the area is also being examined. Police said they have obtained some important leads and efforts are underway to arrest the attackers soon.

Who Was Mad Sandhu?

Mad Sandhu was a popular makeup artist, stylist and social media influencer. His Instagram account @its_madsandhuofficial had more than two lakh followers. He was also the founder of Main Lane Unisex Salon.

He appeared on podcasts where he discussed makeup, the film industry and gender-related issues. He had also faced homophobic trolling on social media. His father was a retired sub-inspector of Punjab Police.

Social Media Post Claims Responsibility for Killing

Following the murder, a social media post went viral in which gangster Goldy Dhillon allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing. The post accused Mad Sandhu of “misleading the new generation” and criticised his content. It also contained further threats.

However, the authenticity of the viral post has not been confirmed, and police have not officially verified the claim. Several reports have said that no one has formally claimed responsibility for the killing so far and the motive remains unclear.

Controversy in July 2026

Mad Sandhu was involved in a controversy with Nihang jathedar Manpreet Singh Khalsa in July 2026. Objections had been raised over Mad Sandhu’s clothing, social media content and old videos, with claims that such content was having a negative impact on Punjab’s culture and young people.

Mad Sandhu had said at the time that he had changed and was not repeating his past mistakes. Police are also examining this angle, but no evidence has yet emerged linking the earlier controversy to his killing.

Police are investigating the case from multiple angles. The investigation remains at an early stage, and no final conclusion regarding the motive behind the killing has been announced.