The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has placed alleged India-linked gangster Nitish Kaushal, alias "Lala", on its Most Wanted list, accusing him of being a key member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime syndicate involved in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion and other transnational crimes.
The FBI said Kaushal, an Indian national, is wanted for his alleged role in the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group (OCG), which originated in Punjab and expanded its operations into the United States, including California.
According to the agency, Kaushal allegedly carried out violent crimes on behalf of the syndicate, including kidnappings and assaults.
A federal arrest warrant was issued against him on June 25 by the US District Court for the Central District of California after he was charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The FBI has warned that Kaushal should be considered "armed and dangerous" and an escape risk.
The development comes days after the US Department of Justice unsealed sweeping indictments against three India-linked transnational criminal syndicates under "Operation Hard Ball", a coordinated law enforcement crackdown involving agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe.
Among those indicted were jailed Punjab gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, whose network prosecutors allege operated across North America, and Lawrence Bishnoi and his close aide Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar.
In one of the indictments unsealed last week, US prosecutors alleged for the first time that Bishnoi and Brar ordered the June 2023 assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. India has consistently rejected Canadian allegations linking it to Nijjar's killing.
The US indictments accused the three syndicates of running global criminal enterprises involved in targeted killings, extortion, drug trafficking, firearms offences, money laundering, human smuggling and racketeering across multiple countries.
Authorities said the multinational investigation resulted in charges against 37 individuals and the arrest of 24 accused across the United States, Canada and Europe. The operation also led to the seizure of nearly one tonne of cocaine, heroin, firearms and cash during coordinated raids.
The FBI's decision to place Kaushal on its Most Wanted list signals an intensified international effort to dismantle Punjab-origin organised crime networks that investigators say have expanded their reach across North America and Europe.
Just yesterday, India reacted to the indictments saying it remained committed to working with international partners against organised crime and terrorism.
"We have seen the announcements made by the US Department of Justice regarding the indictments and enforcement action against transnational organised criminal networks operating across several countries," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"India has consistently maintained that transnational organised crime, terrorism, narco-trafficking, human trafficking, illegal firearms trafficking and related criminal networks pose a serious threat to our societies," the spokesperson added.
Jaiswal further said India and the United States shared "strong and growing cooperation" in combating terrorism and transnational organised crime and that law enforcement agencies of the two countries had worked closely together over the years.
"Our agencies have worked closely together over the years, and this cooperation continues to deepen," he said.
Asked whether the United States had approached India seeking the extradition of any of the accused named in the indictment, including Bishnoi, Jaiswal did not comment on the specifics.
"As in any extradition case, it is something that will be dealt with as per the established legal obligations and judicial processes that are applicable in this particular case," he said.
US officials had earlier confirmed that Washington intended to seek the extradition of Bishnoi and other accused named in the indictment, although no formal request has been publicly announced.