Punjab policeman among 37 wanted by US along with gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria

The Punjab policeman is among 37 accused, including gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail, named by Canadian and European authorities for extortion, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, trafficking of large quantities of narcotics across international borders and other crimes around the world, the impact of which is particularly felt in the Indian nexus.

The police officer was identified as Gurinderjit Singh by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

At a news conference in the US, Mr Essayli said the officer was “not in custody yet, but he will be soon”.

“We have charged him and will extradite him to the US,” he said.

The officer is accused of working closely with Punjabi Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, 38, a gangster jailed in India who is an associate-turned-rival of Lawrence Bishnoi and also started his own criminal enterprise in Punjab, a US Department of Justice press release said.

It added that the Bhagwanpuria gang operates as a multinational crime syndicate based in India, with members from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This group includes more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide and more than 100 members and associates in the United States.

“To expand its power, this group corrupted police officers in India and cooperated with corrupt government officials, including assisting in racketeering schemes. It also provided false information to police officers in India regarding alleged crimes,” the US Department of Justice said.

The Bhagwanpuria group used this false information to target perceived rivals and individuals believed by members or associates to be working with law enforcement, often triggering baseless prosecutions and extortion by corrupt Indian police officers against perceived rivals.

Detailing the officer’s role, the statement said that in April 2026, Gurlal Singh, 22, of Stockton, California, a member of the Bhagwanpuria syndicate who is an illegal alien from India, threatened the victim and then provided the victim’s name to a corrupt police officer in the Indian state of Punjab.

“This ultimately led to the victim, the victim’s father and the victim’s sister being falsely accused of the January 2026 murder of the victim in India, identified in court documents as ‘BS’. It also led to a corrupt police officer in India blackmailing the victim and the victim’s father in connection with the ongoing murder case,” it said.

Mr. Essayli said the police officer blackmailed a family in Los Angeles for about $4,00,000.

A separate member of the Bhagwanpuria syndicate, 26-year-old Gurdev Singh, allegedly tried to extort a family living in the Midwest while in ICE custody, including threatening to “put bullets in your kids.”

A total of 37 defendants — including two defendants who ran their global crime syndicates while jailed in India — are charged in three indictments unsealed today (July 8, 2026). Those arrested in the United States — 11 in California, one in Indiana and one in Georgia — are expected to make their first federal court appearances today.

Three defendants were arrested in Canada, one defendant was arrested in Spain and seven defendants were already in custody prior to today’s law enforcement operation.

Police are looking for 10 fugitives – seven in the United States, two in India and one in Europe.

As part of this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and 1 kilogram of heroin, along with $40,000 in cash and a dozen firearms. A total of 23 search warrants were executed in the Sacramento area and 11 search warrants were executed in the Los Angeles area.

An investigative investigation was ordered into the matter

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police has taken cognizance of certain news reports and social media posts referring to the alleged nomination of Inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, currently posted as SHO, Tanda Police Station, Hoshiarpur District, in connection with an extortion-related investigation allegedly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), USA, under ‘O’.

Pending verification of the facts, Inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra has been transferred from Tanda police station to Hoshiarpur police lines with immediate effect, a statement from the DIG’s office said.

The DIG, Jalandhar Range, has ordered a formal investigative inquiry into the matter and has been commissioned by the Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Jalandhar Rural, an IPS officer. The investigator was directed to look into the allegations and all relevant facts and submit a detailed report as soon as possible, the statement said, adding that further action, if warranted, would be taken strictly in accordance with the law based on the findings of the investigation.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 12:11 PM IST