The Punjab Police have taken into custody 65-year-old Manjit Singh Bedi, a resident of Jalandhar who was actively pursued by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Bedi stands accused in a major American government benefits fraud scheme that caused an estimated financial loss of approximately $600,000 (roughly ₹5.6 crore). To secure vital clues on his whereabouts, the FBI had publicly placed a bounty offering a cash reward of up to $150,000 (around ₹1.4 crore) for verified details resulting in his capture and final conviction.

Bedi's entry onto the FBI’s wanted roster came after a federal warrant for his arrest was formally issued in the United States on 21st May, 2026. The legal action followed serious allegations that he breached the formal conditions of his pre-trial release and supervision after a federal grand jury earlier indicted him for wire fraud alongside widespread fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Official documentation and reports regarding this federal investigation are available directly on the Federal Bureau of Investigation Most Wanted List and detailed coverage by The Times of India.

Background of Manjit Singh Bedi

Born in India, Bedi relocated to the United States in 2019 to join his two sons, who are permanently settled there. Following his move, he established and managed a neighborhood retail business named Asian Grocery Store, located in the city of Tacoma, Washington.

Federal investigators documented that between March 2024 and June 2025, Bedi orchestrated an unlawful financial operation through this business that siphoned at least $600,000 from the US government. As an authorized grocer, his commercial counter regularly received patrons holding Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards intended exclusively to purchase essential nutritional items under the SNAP initiative.

Rather than supplying approved groceries in exchange for the federal welfare subsidies, Bedi routinely processed card swipes for predetermined monetary amounts. He then handed over approximately 50 percent of the swiped value to the cardholders in direct cash while pocketing the entire remaining half of the government funds for his personal gain.

How Bedi Managed His Escape to India

Following his initial indictment, US judicial authorities permitted Bedi to remain out of jail under specific conditional bail terms while he answered the ongoing proceedings in court. Under these mandatory supervision rules, he was legally required to surrender his passport and was strictly confined to the territorial limits of Washington state.

In April of this year, American judicial authorities issued an official summons ordering Bedi to appear in person before the designated court. Instead of complying with the directive, Bedi fled the country. According to investigative findings released by the FBI, he breached his travel restrictions by driving a vehicle across the northern land border directly into Canada, from where he boarded an international flight to reach India.

Because of this unauthorized departure and failure to honor his bond conditions, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma issued a formal federal arrest warrant against Bedi on 21st May, 2026, charging him with direct violations of his supervision terms.

Bedi Taken into Custody in Punjab

Bedi’s run from law enforcement ended when the Punjab Police detained him in Jalandhar during an inquiry into a completely separate travel-fraud complaint registered at the Rama Mandi police station.

Confirming the operation on public platforms, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav stated that "Bedi’s name had also figured in the FBI’s wanted list in connection with the SNAP benefits fraud case." Statements on the arrest were also documented by ANI News and The Print.

Elaborating on the ongoing steps, Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh confirmed that "the police are now checking Bedi’s international travel history, financial transactions, possible associates and other links connected to the US case."

The domestic charges against Bedi have been formally framed under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which address offenses of criminal breach of trust and cheating, alongside Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act (PTPR Act). State police confirmed that Bedi had no prior criminal record or pending complaints in Punjab before the travel fraud case emerged. Law enforcement officials are currently carrying out an independent verification of the dossier shared by US federal agencies regarding his fugitive status and role in the American welfare fraud scheme.