A swift police operation in a quiet neighborhood of Jalandhar led to the capture of an internationally wanted financial fraud suspect. Punjab Police arrested 65-year-old Manjit Singh Bedi, who had been placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Most Wanted List. Bedi is accused of orchestrating a massive welfare fraud scheme in the United States, allegedly stealing over $600,000 in federal benefits. After fleeing the US via Canada to India, the FBI posted a reward of up to $150,000 (approximately Rs 1.40 crore) for information leading to his arrest and conviction. His capture has triggered widespread debate over whether the reward money will be granted to the Punjab Police or to a private informant.
The $600,000 Tacoma SNAP Benefits Fraud Scheme
Manjit Singh Bedi moved to the United States in 2019, where his two sons were already residing. He operated an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington. According to US federal prosecutors, between March 2024 and June 2025, Bedi devised a scheme targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a US federal assistance initiative that provides low-income families with funds for food via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
Investigators alleged that Bedi accepted EBT cards from beneficiaries at his store, swiped them for full benefit amounts, and paid the customers approximately 50 percent of the value in cash while retaining the remaining balance for himself. This illicit cash-out scheme defrauded the US government of at least $600,000. When federal authorities uncovered the operation, Bedi was served with court summons and released under specific pretrial conditions, including surrendering his passport and remaining within Washington state. However, in April 2026, Bedi breached his release conditions, fled through Canada, and arrived in India. A federal arrest warrant was subsequently issued by a US District Court on May 21, 2026.
How a Local Travel Fraud Probe Led to an FBI Fugitive in Jalandhar
On September 3, 2026, the FBI formally listed Bedi on its Most Wanted Fraudsters registry and announced the $150,000 reward. Meanwhile, in Punjab, Bedi's presence came under the scanner of local authorities through an unrelated matter. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Satinder Singh confirmed that Bedi's name emerged during an investigation into a local travel fraud case filed at the Rama Mandi police station in Jalandhar.
As officers probed the local travel fraud complaint, background checks revealed Bedi's status as an internationally wanted fugitive. Punjab Police verified his identity, mapped his movement, and executed his arrest in Jalandhar. Law enforcement officials are now auditing his international travel history, financial transactions, and any local network that assisted him while in hiding.
Understanding the $150,000 Reward Process
The arrest has brought significant attention to the $150,000 bounty offered by the FBI. Under US federal reward guidelines, bounties are not automatically disbursed to police departments simply for executing an arrest. The framework evaluates the specific actionable intelligence or private tip-off that directly led to locating and apprehending the suspect.
If Punjab Police established Bedi's whereabouts strictly through their own internal intelligence, technical surveillance, and local investigations, the agency could present its claim to US authorities. Conversely, if a private informant provided pivotal information regarding Bedi's residence in Jalandhar, that individual may be eligible for the payout. The final decision will depend on verification and processing by US federal law enforcement agencies.
