Halftime Huddle sports bar prior to in burning down on October 26, 2025, with suspicious vehicle. (Image Credit: Leader RCMP)

By Jesse Gill

FRAUD CHARGES

Business owner charged with arson and fraud in relation to fire that burned down sports bar in Leader

Jan 29, 2026 | 7:10 PM

A 50-year-old Calgary man is charged with arson and fraud in relation to a fire that destroyed a building in Leader, Sask., in October 2025.

Leader RCMP arrested Rajinderpal Basran, the owner of Halftime Huddle sports bar, the business in the building that burned down.

Basran also owns a motel and a gas station in the Town of Leader, and owns a home in the community.

He is charged with one count each of arson with intent to defraud, fraud over $5,000, and arson with disregard for human life.

Basran is scheduled to appear in court in Leader on March 19, 2026.

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Mounties from the Leader detachment continue to investigate.

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READ: Leader RCMP continue to investigate suspicious business fire (Dec. 2, 2025)

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As part of the investigation, officers collected and analyzed evidence, including video footage showing a suspect arriving at the business, breaking in, and leaving in a dark-coloured SUV.

On Oct. 26, 2025, at about 2:40 a.m., Leader RCMP received a report of a structure fire at a business on First Avenue in Leader.

Officers and local firefighters responded; however, the business was destroyed.

Mounties engaged fire investigators with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to assist with determining the cause and origin of the fire.