Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A most-wanted fraud suspect accused of cheating US government welfare schemes has been arrested in India, FBI Director Kash Patel said. The FBI is now working to secure the return of Manjeet Singh Bedi, who is accused of defrauding the US government of at least USD 6 lakh and had a USD 1.5 lakh bounty on his head.
Announcing the development in a post on X, Patel said, “Bedi was just arrested in India and was believed to have fled there sometime last year. The FBI is actively working to secure his return to the United States.” He also said Bedi is charged with offences including wire fraud and fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme, or SNAP, benefits.
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According to the FBI, Bedi operated a small grocery store in Tacoma, Washington, and gave customers cash instead of food by swiping their government benefits cards under SNAP. The agency said that instead of selling food to participants, Bedi allegedly swiped their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, handed over cash, and kept half the proceeds for himself.
The FBI said Bedi, a naturalised US citizen, defrauded the US government of at least USD 6 lakh between March 2024 and June 2025. After being indicted for wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud, he was allowed to appear in court without being arrested. He was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state, but the FBI said he later drove across the border to Canada and then fled to India.
A federal arrest warrant was issued against Bedi on May 21 by a US district court after he was charged with Violations of Conditions of Supervision. Patel said, “This is the 5th Most Wanted Fraudster captured since the creation of the new list three months ago – and yet another high-value target captured overseas. Subjects captured so far have been responsible for a combined over USD two billion in fraud and were on the run for almost 4,000 days collectively prior to arrest.” The arrest marks the latest development in the case as US authorities seek to bring Bedi back to face the charges against him.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
