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Manjit Panghali Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 July 1975

Age31 Years

ProfessionTeacher

NationalityCanadian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMukhtiar Panghali

FamilyDaughter - Maya; Father - Resham Basra; Mother - Surinder Basra; Sister - Jasmine Bhambra; Brother - Tur Basra

Manjit Panghali Biography

Manjit Panghali was a Canadian elementary school teacher whose life ended in 2006. She taught at North Ridge Elementary School, was married and the mother

Early life and background

Manjit Panghali was born on July 4, 1975. She was a Canadian national and is described as having black hair and black eyes. At the time of her death she was 31 years old and her zodiac sign was Cancer.

Career

Manjit worked as an elementary school teacher. In 2006 she was employed at North Ridge Elementary School. Her professional life was described simply by her role as a teacher prior to the events of October 2006.

Personal life and family

Manjit was married to Mukhtiar Panghali. The couple had one daughter, Maya, who was three years old at the time of Manjit’s death. Manjit’s parents were named Resham Basra and Surinder Basra. She had a brother, Tur Basra, and a sister, Jasmine Bhambra, who later became involved in caring for Maya. Additional family connections mentioned include a brother-in-law, Tarminderpal, and Mukhtiar’s brother, Sukhvinder Panghali.

Circumstances of disappearance and death

On October 18, 2006, Manjit went missing after attending a prenatal yoga class. She was reported missing later after a delay. Five days after she was last seen, a burnt body identified as Manjit’s was recovered along the Deltaport causeway in South Delta, British Columbia. Manjit was reportedly about four months pregnant at the time she went missing.

Investigation and legal proceedings

Following the discovery of her body, police investigations focused on Manjit’s husband, Mukhtiar Panghali. Surveillance footage from the night she disappeared reportedly showed Mukhtiar buying a lighter and a newspaper. Manjit’s car was found locked with its alarm activated. Mukhtiar was arrested in March 2007 and charged with offences including second-degree murder and interfering with human remains. In February 2011 he was convicted on those charges and later received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years. Mukhtiar’s brother, Sukhvinder Panghali, was convicted on a charge of accessory to murder. In statements made during proceedings, Mukhtiar later admitted he had killed his wife.

Diary entries and public disclosures

In December 2010 Canadian authorities released entries from Manjit’s personal diary and letters. The writings disclosed by police and reported in media accounts describe Manjit’s struggle with clinical depression and her efforts to address problems in her marriage. The diary recorded feelings of despair, references to medication and therapy, and concerns about her husband’s drinking. Manjit wrote about trying to repair the relationship and about her hesitancy to bring another child into a troubled situation. Two months before her death, diary entries described a period of apparent happiness when Mukhtiar expressed excitement about a pregnancy and marked an anniversary.

Custody of the child and family aftermath

After Mukhtiar’s arrest, Manjit’s extended family and Mukhtiar’s parents contested custody of the couple’s daughter. Custody was ultimately granted to Manjit’s sister, Jasmine Bhambra. Jasmine has spoken publicly about how traumatic the custody battle and the trial process were for the family.

Public profile

Manjit’s disappearance, death and the subsequent trial attracted media attention in Canada. Coverage included reporting on the investigation, courtroom testimony and the release of her personal writings. In November 2010 the Crown prosecutor summarized the sequence of events as alleged in court, noting where the body had been found and the delay in reporting Manjit missing.

Latest updates

In October 2021, Mukhtiar Panghali was granted unescorted temporary leaves from prison by the B.C. corrections authorities to spend time with family and to work toward reintegration; court conditions prohibited contact with Manjit’s relatives and their daughter. In March 2022 a web series titled 'Til Death Do Us Part: The Murder Of Manjit Basra' was announced for streaming on Discovery Plus, based on Manjit’s life and death.
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Recent Work

North Ridge Elementary School (teacher)

Elementary school teacher employed at North Ridge Elementary School in 2006.

2006
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Career Highlights

  1. Worked as an elementary school teacher at North Ridge Elementary School.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manjit Panghali born?

4 July 1975

What is Manjit Panghali known for?

Teacher

What is Manjit Panghali’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manjit Panghali married to?

Mukhtiar Panghali