VOI World/ Desk
Punjab Police have arrested Manjit Singh Bedi, an India-born naturalised US citizen who was wanted by the FBI in connection with an alleged $600,000 fraud involving a US government food assistance programme.
Bedi was arrested in Jalandhar on Friday, shortly after the FBI announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said Bedi had allegedly fled to India via Canada in April 2026.
According to the FBI, Bedi is accused of operating a benefits fraud scheme between March 2024 and June 2025 while running a small grocery store, Asian Grocery Store, in Tacoma, Washington.
The store was authorised to process Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used by beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The FBI alleges that instead of selling food, Bedi swiped customers’ cards and gave them cash, while keeping half of the proceeds for himself. The alleged scheme defrauded the US government of at least $600,000.
Bedi was indicted on charges including wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud. He was initially allowed to remain out of custody but was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state.
The FBI said Bedi later crossed into Canada and subsequently travelled to India. A federal arrest warrant was issued against him on May 21, 2026, over alleged violations of the conditions of his supervision.
His arrest in Punjab came after the FBI placed him on its Most Wanted Fraudsters list and publicly sought information on his whereabouts. The FBI had said it believed Bedi was residing in India and offered a reward of up to $150,000.
The arrest brings an international fraud case that began at a small grocery store in Washington state to Punjab, with further legal proceedings likely to determine the next steps in the case.
