How US indictment exposes underbelly of gangster and corrupt Punjab cops
A sweeping US federal indictment has shed fresh light on how jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria allegedly continued to operate a vast transnational criminal enterprise from
A sweeping US federal indictment has shed fresh light on how jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria allegedly continued to operate a vast transnational criminal enterprise from behind bars, while also exposing what investigators describe as a disturbing nexus between organised crime and a serving Punjab Police officer. The October 2025 grand jury indictment, filed in California, charges Bhagwanpuria and more than a dozen associates with racketeering (RICO), drug trafficking, extortion, firearms offences and other serious crimes. The document paints a detailed picture of the workings of the Bhagwanpuria organised crime group, which investigators say systematically exploited corrupt officials to target rivals, intimidate victims and generate extortion revenue. Read Full Story It also contains detailed allegations of corruption within Indian law enforcement, particularly in Punjab, where gangsters allegedly work in concert with police to target rivals and extort victims. POLICE-GANGSTER NEXUS IN PUNJAB According to the indictment, the Bhagwanpuria crime group followed a recurring pattern in India. Gang members and associates allegedly supplied information about perceived rivals, suspected police informants and extortion targets to corrupt police officers. Those officers would then register false criminal cases, including serious charges such as murder, against the targets or their family members. The indictment alleges that gang members or the officers themselves subsequently contacted the victims and demanded money in exchange for dropping the fabricated cases or preventing further legal action. Prosecutors contend that the practice generated extortion revenue while eroding public trust in law enforcement institutions. GLOBAL NETWORK RUN FROM JAIL US prosecutors describe the Bhagwanpuria crime group as a vast criminal organisation with more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including over 100 in the United States. The network operated across the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Bhagwanpuria, once associated with Lawrence Bishnoi before becoming a rival, is accused of directing operations from an Indian prison using contraband mobile phones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices. The indictment alleges that profits from drug trafficking, extortion and murder-for-hire schemes were funnelled back to him and India-based associates.
The document further alleges that California-based cells of the organisation transported more than 100 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine weekly across the United States and towards the Canadian border. Prosecutors cite specific instances involving the sale of approximately five kilograms of cocaine represented as stolen narcotics, as well as the transportation of around 99.2 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin from California to Indiana. The organisation is also accused of kidnappings, assaults and extortion in the US. One case allegedly involved demands for USD 50,000 linked to a purportedly stolen drug shipment. The indictment further alleges firearms trafficking through straw purchasers in Nevada, with weapons sold within the United States or smuggled into Canada. PUNJAB POLICE INSPECTOR NAMED IN INDICTMENT One of the most significant allegations concerns Punjab Police Inspector Gurinderjit Singh alias Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, who has been named as being associated with the crime syndicate. The allegations stem from the murder of Balwinder Singh in Hoshiarpur district in January 2026. The Bhagwanpuria gang allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing through Instagram accounts operating under the aliases Jashal Chambal and Gurlal Singh Rudiana. The indictment outlines a sequence of events In April this year, one accused, Gurlal Singh, shared details of a victim with Inspector Gurinderjit Singh so the individual could be falsely implicated in Balwinder Singh's murder. The officer then informed the victim's father that he intended to charge him with the murder. Days later, the police officer allegedly warned that unless payment was made, the victim, his father and his sister would all be implicated in the case. In May, the officer participated in a press conference where police publicly accused the family of arranging the murder and announced that they would be formally nominated as accused. As the case progressed, days later, he allegedly told the victim's father in Punjabi that "Gurlal is with me" and complained that the agreed amount had not been fully paid. The same day, he allegedly indicated that two of the three family members could be removed from the murder case in exchange for payment.
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