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FBI hunts for Indian national in transnational crime case
Federal authorities say the accused is linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 14, Jul 2026
- 17:01 EDT
- 26
Nitish Kaushal / FBI
The FBI has issued a wanted notice for an Indian national alleging his involvement in a Punjab-based transnational criminal organization.
The agency identified the individual as Nitish Kaushal, also known as "Lala," alleging that he was involved in the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group (Bhagwanpuria OCG), which it said originated in the Indian state of Punjab and operated in the Central District of California and elsewhere.
Also Read: Man held after Indian American wife killed, son shot in US
The organization is accused of involvement in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. According to the FBI, Kaushal allegedly carried out acts of violence on behalf of the group, including kidnappings and assaults.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for him on June 25, 2026, by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles after he was charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy.
The FBI said Kaushal, born on June 15, 2000, is an Indian national with black hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs about 190 pounds, and uses the alias "Lala."
The agency warned that Kaushal "should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk." It asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the nearest FBI office, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip through the FBI's online tip portal.
The wanted notice comes days after the U.S. Department of Justice announced Operation Hard Ball, a multinational law enforcement operation targeting three India-based organized crime groups. Authorities said the operation resulted in 24 arrests across the United States, Canada, and Europe, with 17 defendants charged in the Bhagwanpuria case.
Prosecutors allege the syndicate operates across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, with more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including more than 100 in the United States.
The Justice Department said the Bhagwanpuria group financed its activities through drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, and kidnappings, linking it to cross-border criminal operations affecting the Indian diaspora in North America.
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