The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has charged Punjab Police officer Gurinderjit Singh Nagra in a racketeering case linked to an alleged $400,000 extortion matter, after which Punjab Police shifted him from Tanda Police Station to Police Lines, Hoshiarpur, and ordered a fact-finding inquiry.
The allegations against Nagra, the Station House Officer of Tanda Police Station, form part of one of three federal indictments unsealed under Operation Hard Ball, a multinational investigation targeting organised crime groups accused of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and other crimes across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Punjab Police Orders Inquiry
Following reports of the FBI action, Punjab Police transferred Nagra to Police Lines, Hoshiarpur, and ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations.
The Office of the DIG, Jalandhar Range, said the department had taken cognisance of media reports and social media posts regarding Nagra’s alleged involvement in the FBI investigation. Pending verification of the facts, the officer was transferred with immediate effect.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Hoshiarpur, said the transfer was a precautionary measure while the allegations are being examined. The SSP said no official confirmation or clear information had so far been received from the Government of India or the Punjab Government in this regard.
Case Linked to Operation Hard Ball
The DIG has assigned the inquiry to the Superintendent of Police, Investigation, Jalandhar Rural. Punjab Police said any further legal action would depend on the findings of the probe.
The case forms part of Operation Hard Ball, a coordinated crackdown by US authorities targeting India-based organised crime syndicates allegedly involved in extortion, violent crime and international narcotics trafficking.
According to the US Department of Justice, Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi are among 37 defendants named in three federal indictments filed under the operation. The indictments also include alleged organised crime figures Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Singh Dhanda.
Political Row Follows Allegations
The case has also triggered a political row in Punjab, with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led government of allowing an alleged nexus between the police, gangsters and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
In a post on X, Majithia claimed that the FBI had charged Punjab Police SHO Gurinderjit Singh Nagra in connection with a $400,000 extortion case. He alleged that a family was threatened in the United States while their relatives in India were allegedly implicated in a false murder case.
The FBI has also announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, who is wanted for his alleged role in the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime group.
