Ludhiana family fights for baby after California murder of Jasmine Gill

The family of Jasmine Gill, a 30-year-old Indian-origin nurse allegedly murdered in Sacramento, California, has appealed to Indian and US authorities for custody of her eight-month-old son, Jugad, nearly a month after her remains were discovered. Her husband, Gurinder Singh Gill, has been arrested and charged with murder, while the child is reportedly in foster care. Jasmine’s relatives in Ludhiana, Punjab, are seeking diplomatic assistance to bring her remains to India for her last rites and have her maternal family considered for the care of her son.

Jasmine’s mother, Sukhwinder Kaur Aujla, 62, has made an emotional appeal for the baby to be reunited with his maternal relatives. The family says the child was central to Jasmine’s life and believes that raising him would help them preserve their connection with her.

“My daughter’s life revolved around the baby. Despite daily harassment, she dedicated herself to raising him and sent me his videos every day,” her mother said, according to a report by The Indian Express.

She added that she wanted to hold her grandson and feel close to her daughter through him.

Jasmine’s relatives have written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, requesting intervention and assistance from the relevant authorities.

Their appeal includes support in bringing Jasmine’s remains back to India for her final rites and help in pursuing lawful contact, custody or guardianship arrangements for Jugad.

The family has also requested consular and diplomatic assistance to communicate with US authorities and understand the legal procedures involved in securing care of the child. They have asked for help with travel and visa arrangements so that relatives can pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels.

Jasmine’s brother, Ludhiana-based poet Paash Azaad, said the baby was currently in foster care and needed the support of his immediate maternal family. He also stressed that the family wanted the authorities to examine their request in the child's best interests.

The relatives have launched an online campaign under the name “Justice for Jasmine” to raise awareness about their appeal.

Jasmine Kaur Aulakh, known as Jasmine Gill, was a nursing graduate of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana. She moved to Canada in 2018, qualified as a registered nurse and obtained permanent residency before working in Toronto.

According to her brother, she married Gurinder Singh Gill, a US-based nurse practitioner, in an arranged marriage ceremony in Jagraon, Punjab, on 11 March 2024. She subsequently moved to California.

The couple's son, Jugad, was born on 9 February 2026.

Her family says Jasmine remained closely connected to her relatives in Punjab and regularly shared videos of her baby with her mother. They had hoped she would eventually return to India with her son.

Jasmine was last seen at her home in Sacramento on 30 September 2026. The following day, police discovered burnt human remains approximately 70 miles from her residence. Homicide detectives later identified the remains as hers.

On 16 October, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office announced that Gurinder Singh Gill had been arrested and charged with murder. He had been taken into custody on 14 October and was being held without bail, according to the report.

Investigators reportedly identified inconsistencies in his account of Jasmine's disappearance. He had allegedly claimed that agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had taken her away while she was checking the mail.

However, ICE confirmed that no enforcement activity had taken place at the residence, according to the information cited in the report.

Detectives also found that the couple had been involved in an ongoing divorce and child custody dispute. These circumstances form part of the reported investigation, but the allegations against Gurinder have yet to be determined by a court. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Jasmine’s brother has alleged that she experienced continuing harassment during her marriage and had decided to leave the relationship. He claims she wanted to start a new life with her young son.

Paash also alleged that the family had raised concerns about financial control within the marriage, including pressure for the couple to maintain a joint bank account. He further claimed that Jasmine received little support from her husband and in-laws during childbirth.

These are allegations made by her family and have not been independently established in the information available.

Gurinder’s native village of Dala in Moga district has reportedly passed a resolution condemning the alleged killing and calling for the strictest lawful punishment if guilt is established.

For Jasmine’s mother, the immediate priority is to establish a future for her grandson within the maternal family. She says the relatives want to raise and care for him while preserving his connection to his mother's family and heritage.

However, any decision about custody or guardianship will depend on the applicable US child welfare and family court procedures. The family's appeal to Indian authorities is seeking diplomatic support, but it does not itself determine where the child will live.

The case has therefore become both a criminal investigation in California and a family custody matter involving relatives in India. As the legal process continues, Jasmine’s family is seeking answers about her death, the return of her remains and an opportunity to care for the child she leaves behind.