Punjab Police Arrest US Citizen Wanted for $600,000 Fraud

Punjab Police have arrested a naturalised American citizen in Jalandhar who is wanted in the United States for allegedly defrauding the government of at least $600,000. The suspect, identified as Manjeet Singh Bedi, was taken into custody two days ago in connection with a separate fraud case registered in the Rama Mandi area, officials said on Sunday.

Investigators said Bedi left the United States in April this year and travelled to India via Canada to evade law enforcement. During questioning in the local fraud case, which involves duping a person on the pretext of helping him go abroad, police learned of his status as a fugitive in the US.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had indicted Bedi on charges of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud. He was previously ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state. A US district court issued a federal arrest warrant for him on May 21 for violating the conditions of his supervision.

According to the FBI, Bedi operated a small grocery store in Tacoma, Washington. He allegedly swiped customers' government benefits cards, providing them cash instead of food under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP) while keeping half of the proceeds for himself. The alleged fraud took place between March 2024 and June 2025.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest on social media, stating that the agency is actively working to secure Bedi's return to the United States. He noted that Bedi is the fifth most wanted fraudster captured since the creation of a new list three months ago. Patel added that individuals captured so far were responsible for a combined over $2 billion in fraud and had been on the run for almost 4,000 days collectively prior to their arrests.