FBI-Wanted Manjit Singh Bedi Arrested by Punjab Police in Jalandhar Over Alleged $600,000 US Benefits Fraud
Punjab Police have arrested Manjit Singh Bedi, a 65-year-old man who had recently been listed by the FBI among its Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with an alleged fraud involving the US government's food assistance programme.
The arrest in Jalandhar has drawn attention not only because of the amount involved—at least $600,000—but also because Bedi was allegedly being sought by American authorities after leaving the United States and travelling to India via Canada. The FBI had announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Who Is Manjit Singh Bedi?
According to the FBI, Manjit Singh Bedi is an India-born naturalised US citizen who was believed to be residing in India. He was wanted in connection with alleged violations of conditions of supervision following charges related to wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud in the United States.
Reports say Bedi had been living in the United States and was associated with a grocery business in Tacoma, Washington. The case against him is linked to allegations that a fraud scheme involving government-issued food assistance benefits operated between March 2024 and June 2025.
His name recently appeared on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list, turning what might otherwise have remained a complicated financial fraud case into an international manhunt.
What Was the Alleged $600,000 Fraud?
The allegations centre on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a US government programme that helps eligible people purchase food.
According to the FBI, Bedi allegedly operated a small grocery store in Tacoma called Asian Grocery Store. Customers participating in the SNAP programme used Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards to access their benefits.
Authorities allege that instead of supplying food against the benefits charged to the cards, Bedi swiped customers' EBT cards and gave them cash while allegedly retaining part of the amount for himself. The FBI says the alleged scheme caused losses of at least $600,000 to the US government.
These are allegations, and the charges remain subject to the legal process.
How Did He Allegedly Leave the United States?
The case took another serious turn after Bedi was indicted on allegations related to wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud.
According to the FBI, he was initially allowed to appear before the court without being taken into custody. However, he was ordered to surrender his passport and remain within Washington state.
The FBI alleges that Bedi subsequently crossed into Canada and later travelled to India. A federal arrest warrant was issued on May 21, 2026, in connection with alleged violations of the conditions of his supervision.
His alleged departure from the United States led to an international search, with the FBI listing him among its Most Wanted Fraudsters.
How Punjab Police Arrested Him in Jalandhar
The search eventually led authorities to Punjab.
Punjab Police arrested Bedi in Jalandhar after receiving information about his whereabouts. According to reports, a special police team tracked him down and intercepted him while he was travelling. He was taken into custody in connection with a separate case registered in Jalandhar, while police also began examining information related to his alleged wanted status in the United States.
Reports have identified Bedi as a resident of Jalandhar, and his arrest has become a major development because it involves allegations spanning multiple countries and law-enforcement jurisdictions.
FBI Had Offered a Reward of Up to $150,000
Before his arrest, the FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Bedi's arrest and conviction.
The reward highlighted the seriousness with which US authorities were treating the case. The FBI's official wanted notice described Bedi as a naturalised US citizen who was believed to be in India and outlined the allegations involving the SNAP benefits programme.
His arrest by Punjab Police came shortly after his name received widespread attention following his inclusion on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list.
Why This Arrest Is Significant
The arrest is significant because it demonstrates how financial crime investigations can quickly cross international borders.
An alleged fraud that began in the United States eventually resulted in a wanted notice from the FBI and an arrest in Punjab. The case now involves questions about international travel, financial transactions, possible associates and the legal process that may follow.
Punjab Police are reportedly continuing their investigation into Bedi's movements and activities, while information related to the alleged US fraud case is also being examined.
The case is also an example of the growing importance of cooperation between law-enforcement agencies when suspects move between countries.
What Happens Next?
The legal situation could now become more complicated.
Bedi is currently facing proceedings connected to his arrest in India, while US authorities have also sought him in connection with the alleged SNAP and wire fraud case. Any future process involving his possible return to the United States would depend on legal procedures and coordination between the relevant authorities.
At this stage, authorities are continuing their investigations, and the final outcome of the allegations will depend on the judicial process.
A Case That Turned Into an International Manhunt
From an alleged benefits fraud scheme in Washington state to an FBI wanted notice and finally an arrest in Jalandhar, the Manjit Singh Bedi case has become an unusual example of how quickly an investigation can become international.
The allegations involve at least $600,000 in suspected fraud, an FBI reward of up to $150,000, an alleged journey from the United States to Canada and then India, and ultimately an arrest by Punjab Police.
For now, the arrest marks a major development in the case. However, the legal proceedings are still important, and the allegations against Bedi will ultimately have to be tested through the appropriate judicial process.
As further details emerge from Punjab Police and US authorities, this case is likely to remain in focus because of its international nature and the scale of the alleged fraud.