FBI Allegations – Punjab Officer Faces US Extortion Case Inquiry
FBI Allegations – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has accused a Punjab Police officer of allegedly taking part in an extortion plot connected to jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. US authorities claim the officer threatened a family in the United States with fabricated murder charges in India in an effort to obtain $400,000.
Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, who was serving as Station House Officer at Tanda police station in Hoshiarpur district, has been moved to the police lines while Punjab Police conducts an internal inquiry. The allegations form part of a wider federal case in the United States involving alleged members and associates of the Bhagwanpuria network.
US prosecutors outline allegations in Los Angeles
Speaking at a media briefing in Los Angeles, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said the federal indictment alleges that the criminal group worked with corrupt officials in India to pressure and intimidate people it viewed as rivals or threats.
Essayli said Nagra is accused of attempting to extort a Los Angeles-area family by warning that its members could face false murder charges in India. According to the US prosecution, the family was pressured for $400,000 before a victim agreed to make a payment.
He said the United States had filed charges against the officer and would seek his extradition. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Indictment describes alleged use of false cases
The seven-count indictment, titled United States v. Bhagwanpuria, et al., describes what investigators say was a transnational criminal operation with links in India, the United States, Canada and other countries.
According to the document, members of the alleged syndicate cultivated relationships with corrupt law enforcement and government officials in India. Prosecutors claim these contacts were used to submit false information to police, trigger baseless criminal proceedings and demand money from people targeted by the group.
The indictment states that the alleged network used fabricated accusations against individuals believed to be rivals or people cooperating with law enforcement. It says such allegations were then used as a basis for intimidation and extortion.
California suspect named in April 2026 episode
Federal authorities have also named Gurlal Singh, 22, of Stockton, California, as an alleged member of the group. The indictment claims that in April 2026, he threatened a victim and passed the victim’s name to an allegedly corrupt police officer in Punjab.
US prosecutors say the victim, the victim’s father and sister were later falsely linked to the January 2026 killing of a person identified in court records as B.S. in India. The filing alleges that the pending murder case was subsequently used to pressure the victim and the victim’s father for money.
Another accused, Gurdev Singh, 26, is alleged to have tried to extort a family in the US Midwest while being held in immigration custody. The indictment says he made threats against the family’s children.
Punjab Police orders inquiry outside Hoshiarpur
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar Range, Naveen Singla said the department became aware of the matter through the FBI’s Los Angeles media page. He confirmed that Nagra had been transferred from Tanda police station to the police lines.
Singla said the inquiry had been assigned outside Hoshiarpur to maintain fairness. Superintendent of Police (Detective), Jalandhar, Vineet Ahlawat, has been directed to investigate the allegations and submit a report to the department.
Political leaders seek accountability
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticised Punjab Police after sharing details of the FBI briefing on X. He said the allegations had damaged the force’s reputation.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira also called for accountability, describing the reported US charges as a serious question over the functioning of Punjab Police.
The US Justice Department has brought charges including racketeering conspiracy, attempted extortion, narcotics trafficking and firearms-related offences against defendants in the wider case. The indictment represents allegations by prosecutors, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court.