New Zealand’s largest news organisation, Stuff, has named Baltej Singh, nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the two bodyguards who assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984, as the mastermind behind the largest methamphetamine seizure in the country’s history.The report, published on March 28, marks the first time a New Zealand media outlet has identified Baltej by name, since he had earlier obtained permanent name suppression from a New Zealand court.According to Stuff, Singh has since abandoned his bid to retain name suppression, though no specific details were provided regarding when or in which court the withdrawal took place.The development is significant within New Zealand’s legal context, where courts can bind local media from publishing the identities of accused or convicted persons. However, such suppression orders do not apply to international media.Indian media had named Baltej as early as April 2023, within days of his arrest. Canadian broadcaster CTV News and the Investigative Journalism Foundation also named him extensively in a multi-part investigation published in October 2025. By the time he withdrew his suppression application, his name had already been in the international public domain for nearly two years.The most likely explanation for the withdrawal, analysts say, is that the suppression had been rendered meaningless by international coverage. Continuing an expensive legal fight to maintain it served no practical purpose.Baltej is the son of Sarwan Singh Agwan, whose brother Satwant Singh was one of the two Sikh bodyguards who assassinated Indira Gandhi. The assassination was carried out in retaliation for Operation Bluestar, the military offensive aimed at removing militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.Satwant Singh’s family later moved to New Zealand in the 1980s, initially running a small grocery shop in Auckland. Over time, there were reports of a sudden increase in the family’s wealth, with Baltej’s father eventually becoming the proprietor of a real estate firm and purchasing a house valued at more than Rs 100 crore.Baltej had reportedly been hailed in local Auckland gurdwaras by Khalistan supporters due to his family connection to Satwant Singh. Intelligence sources suggested that he maintained links with individuals advocating separatism. Punjab Police and Indian security agencies had been tracking the case since his arrest.The case against Singh began on March 2, 2023, when 21-year-old Aiden Sagala died after consuming liquid methamphetamine concealed in cans labelled Honey Bear Beer, which had been imported from Toronto, Canada. His death triggered a major investigation by New Zealand authorities.Police later traced the trail to a storage unit in Auckland, where they discovered approximately 700 kg of liquid methamphetamine, the largest such haul in the country’s history. Investigators said the drugs were imported in consignments disguised as beverages, including kombucha from the United States, coconut water from India, and nearly 29,000 cans of Honey Bear Beer from Canada.Singh was arrested at Auckland Airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai, which he had booked that same day. He was later sentenced to 22 years in prison for importing methamphetamine, ephedrine and cocaine.A co-accused, Himatjit Jimmy Singh Kahlon, who had distributed the meth-laced cans to Sagala, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years.New Zealand Police also announced the seizure of real estate property worth an estimate NZ$36 million, allegedly connected to the drug operation, as part of the investigation called Project Lavender.