FBI adds Indian-origin man to most wanted list over alleged organised crime links

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday added Indian-origin man Nitish Kaushal to its most wanted list amid the ongoing crackdown on transnational organised crime.According to a release by the FBI, Kaushal is an associate of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group, which is engaged in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.“This organization, known as the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group (the ‘Bhagwanpuria OCG’), originated in the Punjab state of India and operated in the Central District of California and elsewhere. Kaushal is alleged to have carried out acts of violence on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including, but not limited to, kidnappings and assaults,” the agency said.“On June 25, 2026, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Kaushal in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles, California, after he was charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Conspiracy,” it added.This comes days after US federal prosecutors charged jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Goldy Brar with ordering the assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.Additionally, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies also conducted massive raids on the Lawrence Bishnoi network in the United States earlier this week.The agencies took around two dozen individuals into custody in California and other locations.The international crackdown, codenamed “Operation Hard Ball,” was aimed at dismantling key factions of the transnational crime syndicate allegedly targeting communities across North America and India.