FRIENDS of a wealthy businessman shot dead in India during an alleged contract killing have been paying tribute to him.

Charanjit Singh, 42, was in the Indian state of Punjab when he was shot in the head and killed on September 28.

According to reports, Indian police believe Mr Singh was shot outside a hotel by a contract killer, after he asked an associate, named in India as Kamal Kumar, to repay money Mr Singh had given him.

It is thought while Kumar was in England, Mr Singh gave him 3.5m rupees (£46,000) to buy some property for him in Punjab.

According to reports in India, Kumar used the cash to buy four plots of land, but registered them in the names of his own family.

Mr Singh, a father-of-two, and his family had been in the country to attend a wedding which he had helped organise between a British man and an Indian woman.

They had been due to fly back the following day.

Family friend Harbinder Singh, 35, said that on the night he died, Mr Singh had gone on to another party after the wedding.

He said: “He called his family from the party and said he would come back soon.

“The family were later called at around 1.30am and they were told something had happened.

“When they reached the hospital Mr Singh was no more.”

The friend said Mr Singh’s wife Tajinder Kaur, 43, and 17-year-old daughter Amandeep Kaur are still in India.

Son Gagandip, 19, who had already returned to the family home in Bexleyheath, flew back to India after hearing the shocking news.

The friend said Mr Singh had helped arrange many marriages over the years and would often financially help people in India.

He said: “Mr Singh was very calm and quite personable. He was friendly and always helpful.

“These things I can’t believe. Who can do these things to him?”

A Sikh who regularly attended the Gurdwara temple in Calderwood Street, Woolwich, Mr Singh lived in Plumstead for many years where he ran employment agency The Superior Service in Plumstead High Street.

Two books of condolence have been opened at the agency, which deals with 200 to 300 workers a week.

Staff controller Surinderpal Sansoa said: “The employees and business colleagues are very saddened by the sudden and tragic death of Charanjit Singh.

“He will be dearly missed. He was very well known in business community and in the Indian community as a whole.

“There will be a memorial service held at a date to be arranged but understandably it is too soon to give any detail.”

Friend Bill Thind, 51, said: “He was an outgoing person and a family man. He was a sportsman as well and regularly played Indian kabaddi in Plumstead.

“He really was a well liked person in the community.”

The Foreign Office are providing consular assistance to the family and have confirmed Indian police are investigating Mr Singh’s death.

It is reported in India that three people have been arrested so far over his murder but police are looking for another three accomplices.