The Surrey businessman at the centre of two recent extortion-related shootings in Surrey is hosting a public safety forum.
S.H.I.E.L.D. (Stopping Harmful Intimidation & Extortion through Discussion), of which Satish Kumar is a member, is hosting its second public safety forum on Sunday at Reflections Banquet Hall (6638 152A St.). Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and the forum starts at 2 p.m.
The forum follows a recent surge in reported extortion threats against South Asian individuals and businesses in the Surrey area. "This event aims to foster dialogue, share information, and strengthen community resilience," reads a poster for the event.
Surrey Police said in a news release Friday (June 13), there have been "10 reports of extortion in Surrey" in the past six months.
"Numerous police agencies in Canada have reported that individuals or businesses from the South Asian community are contacted through a letter, phone calls or social media and demands for money are made under threats of violence. There are often indicators that criminal connections and activities extend well beyond the boundaries of the city itself," police said.
Two businesses, with current and former links to Kumar, were recently shot at in connection with extortion-related phone calls he had been receiving over the past few months.
The two recent shootings at a home in Panorama Ridge are also being investigated as extortion-related, police said. A home in the 12000-block of Coulthard Road was shot at in the early morning hours of May 13 and then again around 3 a.m. on May 25.
Kumar said the shooting death of Abbotsford resident Satwinder Sharma in Surrey was also extortion-related. This is not something that police have confirmed, although they have stated it appears to be a targeted incident.
"Mr. Sharma was at his place of work at the time of the shooting and he had no criminal history," said Sgt. Freda Fong, a spokeswoman with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
The forum on Sunday is open to the public and will be in English and Punjabi. Mayor Brenda Locke, MLA Gary Begg and MP Sukh Dhaliwal are planning to attend, Kumar said. Officers from the Surrey Police and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit will also be there.
Police in Surrey have created an extortion investigation team to respond to and investigate local incidents.
“It is critical to all of us at Surrey Police Service that we tackle this trend of extortions head on, with significant police resources and intelligence led investigative work,” said SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. “It is equally important that we collaborate with the victims and the broader community so we can deal with this issue together.”
Police advise that individuals who have been victims of extortion should call 911 and report the incidents to the Surrey Police Service. Anyone with information concerning extortions should contact our non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca, should they wish to remain anonymous.
“We are concerned there may be additional victims who have complied with extortion demands or have not reported their situation to the police,” says Chief Superintendent Wendy Mehat, Officer in Charge of the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit. “We discourage anyone from responding to such demands. Officers are working to prevent these traumatizing situations and to holding those responsible to account.”
Extortion threats against Kumar
Kumar's business, Reflections Banquet Hall in Surrey, was shot at several times during the early morning hours of June 7. Police would not provide information about the Reflections Banquet Hall shooting.
A few days after the Reflections shooting, a business in Newton was shot at overnight (June 9). Although Kumar used to own a business at this location, he sold it a few years ago.
"I'm sure somebody over here is giving information," Kumar said.
Kumar told the Now-Leader that all this started a few months ago, when, on May 28, a call came in from someone demanding that Kumar give him $2 million, otherwise, "you will see the consequences."
He kept receiving calls, and each time would report them to the police. At one point, the caller said he must start paying or they will kill him and his family.
Then, on June 7, Kumar received a video from the caller that showed the shooting at the banquet hall. A few days later, on June 10, Kumar called the extortionists and got into an argument.
"What are you expecting from us?" Kumar asked the caller.
And he said, 'We want $2 million.'
"I'm not giving a single penny," Kumar said.
"We don't have the cash...we don't have the money."
The call continued for another five or six minutes.
Kumar said he is not afraid, which is why he is hosting the public forum to provide a space for people to come together and discuss what is happening in the community. "I'm doing what I can do," he said.
Kumar is also the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Temple.
S.H.I.E.L.D. (Stopping Harmful Intimidation & Extortion through Discussion) is hosting its second public safety forum Sunday (June 15) at Reflections Banquet Hall (6638 152A St). @SurreyNowLeader pic.twitter.com/yOBVDVgUYq
— Anna Burns (@AnnaBBurns) June 13, 2025
