A Years-Long Dispute Ends in Flames (Image Credits: Nypost.com)
Richmond Hill, Queens – Federal prosecutors charged a father and son with arson after they allegedly set fire to a print shop they occupied just hours before a scheduled eviction.[1][2]
A Years-Long Dispute Ends in Flames
Narinder Singh, 56, and his son Jawahar Singh, 29, operated a print shop at 101st Avenue in Richmond Hill. The duo faced a protracted legal battle with landlord Jatinder Singh, who described them as squatters in court filings. The landlord claimed they signed a fake lease without permission and paid no rent.[2]
Eviction proceedings intensified in early 2026. The city marshal’s office issued a notice on January 29, setting February 18 as the removal date. The Singhs filed an emergency appeal the day before, but a judge denied it on February 17.[1]
Security Cameras Capture Incriminating Moments
Around 8:15 p.m. on February 17, surveillance footage from inside the shop showed the Singhs moving a table equipped with a hot plate and several rolls of paper towels. Jawahar plugged an orange extension cord into a smart plug connected to an electrical outlet. They positioned one roll directly on the hot plate and left the premises.[2]
Four hours later, just after midnight on February 18, the paper towel ignited. The blaze spread rapidly to nearby rolls, boxes, and other combustibles, gutting the entire storefront. Firefighters from 46 FDNY units battled the second-alarm fire for over 90 minutes, preventing spread to an adjoining building. No injuries occurred.[3][4]
Federal Investigation Leads to Arrests
Jawahar Singh alerted FDNY officers at the scene about the shop’s internal cameras, leading investigators to the key footage. Their faces appeared clearly in the video, with no other individuals entering or exiting. Fire marshals recovered the hot plate, extension cord, and smart plug from the rubble.[1]
Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York filed charges on March 5. Each man faced one count of malicious use of fire to damage property used in interstate commerce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Amzallag called the act “a crime done out of revenge,” noting the imminent eviction.[2]
Authorities arrested Jawahar at his West Hempstead home after he hid in a crawlspace. Narinder was taken into custody but required hospitalization before arraignment. Jawahar appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court that day, where Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo set a $100,000 bond.[2]
Immigration Twist Complicates Jawahar’s Case
Jawahar, a native of India, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2019 but overstayed. He and his parents sought asylum, citing persecution by India’s BJP party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An immigration judge denied the claim and ordered detention upon any release from criminal custody.[2]
His attorney, Robert Caliendo, emphasized Jawahar’s efforts to remain in the country. “The point is that he’s fighting very hard to stay in this country. He doesn’t want to leave,” Caliendo stated. The lawyer added uncertainty about the immigration outcome.[2]
- Fire destroyed the print shop but caused no injuries.
- Surveillance footage provided undeniable evidence against the Singhs.
- Eviction battle highlighted tensions over squatting claims in commercial spaces.
This case underscores the extreme measures some take amid eviction pressures, raising questions about property disputes in New York City. What measures should landlords and tenants pursue to avoid such escalations? Share your thoughts in the comments.
