Indian-Origin Man On FBI’s Most-Wanted List For $600,000 Fraud Arrested In Punjab

The Punjab Police on Friday arrested an Indian-origin American citizen who was recently placed on the US’ Federal Bureau of Investogation’s (FBI) ‘Most Wanted Fraudsters’ list in connection with an alleged US government food benefits scam.

The accused, identified as Manjit Singh Bedi, was arrested in Jalandhar on Friday. He was carrying a reward of up to $150,000 announced by the FBI for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Bedi had allegedly fled to India via Canada in April 2026 to evade US authorities.

According to the FBI, Bedi, a naturalised US citizen, allegedly defrauded the US government of at least $600,000 through a scheme involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Bedi allegedly ran the Asian Grocery

Store in Tacoma, Washington. Investigators accuse him of using customers’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for fake grocery transactions and giving the beneficiaries cash instead, while allegedly keeping about half of the benefits as his share.

The #FBI has added Manjit Singh Bedi to its Most Wanted Fraudsters List. He is #wanted for his alleged involvement in a benefits fraud scheme that defrauded the United States Government out of at least $600,000 between March of 2024 and June of 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. A… pic.twitter.com/oGJNdkz9E8

— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) September 3, 2026

According to the FBI, SNAP recipients would use their EBT cards at Bedi’s store, ostensibly to purchase groceries. Instead, investigators allege that Bedi converted the benefits into cash for customers and retained a portion of the money for himself.

The alleged scheme is said to have operated from March 2024 until June 2025. During this period, Bedi allegedly caused losses of at least USD 6 lakh to the US government, according to the FBI.

Bedi was indicted on charges including wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud. Rather than being taken into custody at the time, he was permitted to remain free while appearing before the court.

As part of the conditions imposed on him, Bedi was required to surrender his passport and remain within Washington state.

A US federal arrest warrant was issued against him on May 21 for allegedly violating the conditions of his supervision.

Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said Bedi was also taken into custody in connection with a separate case registered in Punjab. He was booked under the Punjab Travel Professionals’ Regulation Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to cheating and criminal breach of trust, as reported by Indian Express.