CHANDIGARH: India has handed over 64-year-old Manjit Singh Bedi, who was on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Most Wanted Fraudsters list, to US authorities. The Punjab Police arrested him in September. Bedi is accused of defrauding the US food assistance programme of at least $600,000, equivalent to ₹5.70 crore. According to US authorities, he arrived in Seattle this week and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Bedi’s return to the United States on social media platform X. He described the arrest and transfer as a significant development in the agency’s campaign against wanted fraud suspects. According to Patel, Bedi is among six individuals arrested since the launch of the special list. The group is accused of being collectively involved in fraud amounting to more than $2 billion.
Patel also praised cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, stating that the FBI had secured 260 extraditions and removals over the preceding 20 months. According to him, this represented an increase of more than 70 per cent compared with the previous 20-month period. However, the official announcement did not provide details about the legal process through which Bedi was transferred from India to the United States.
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Allegations of Food Assistance Fraud
According to US prosecutors, Bedi is accused of illegally exploiting benefits distributed under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income individuals and families purchase food.
The indictment alleges that Bedi used beneficiaries’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to carry out fraudulent food purchases. In exchange for the transactions, he allegedly returned approximately half the value of the benefits to cardholders in cash and retained the remaining amount for himself. Prosecutors allege that this arrangement resulted in the misuse of government assistance funds.
Bedi, a resident of Kent, Washington, previously operated an Asian grocery store in Tacoma. US authorities allege that he defrauded the food assistance programme of at least $600,000 between 2024 and 2025.
John Walk, Inspector General of the US Department of Agriculture, alleged that the scheme harmed Americans who genuinely needed assistance to meet their food requirements. He also raised concerns about the alleged manner in which Bedi’s grocery store operated.
Indictment Filed in April
According to the US Department of Justice, an indictment charging Bedi with six counts of wire fraud was filed in April. He pleaded not guilty in court on April 22. Prosecutors allege that he travelled to India within a week of entering his plea. US authorities said he had fled to Canada before subsequently travelling to India.
The FBI added Bedi to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list on September 3. Indian law enforcement agencies subsequently took him into custody. Following his transfer to the United States, he is expected to face judicial proceedings there.
Acting US Attorney Neil Floyd said prosecutors would ask the court to keep Bedi in custody pending trial. He cited the alleged flight from the United States as a reason to argue that the accused posed a risk of fleeing again.
Floyd said those who exploit government assistance programmes must be held accountable. He also commended the FBI and its international law enforcement partners for their efforts to bring Bedi back to the United States to face the charges against him.
Under US law, each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The penalties applicable to SNAP-related fraud may also depend on the relevant legal provisions and the charges established in court.
The allegations against Bedi have not yet been proven in court. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case will be decided through the US judicial process.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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