The FBI has arrested Nitish Kaushal, an Indian national, in Vermont on 17 July 2025, days after placing him on its Most Wanted list — marking a significant breakthrough in the US prosecution of the alleged Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, a Punjab-based transnational syndicate accused of operating across North America, Europe, and Oceania.

'Case Update: Nitish Kaushal has been arrested in Vermont,' the FBI's Most Wanted account announced on X on Thursday. The bureau also appealed for public assistance to locate 'other fugitives wanted for committing crimes related to criminal enterprise investigations.'

The Federal Charges

A federal arrest warrant for Kaushal — also known by the alias 'Lala' — was issued on 25 June by the US District Court for the Central District of California after a grand jury charged him under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy statute. The 44-page federal indictment names 15 defendants, including alleged gang leader Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and several other alleged members.

Prosecutors allege the organisation had more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including more than 100 in the United States, generating revenue through murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.

Kaushal's Alleged Role

According to the indictment, Kaushal's role within the group included carrying out kidnappings and assaults on behalf of the gang. A central allegation concerns an incident on 10 July 2024, when members of the organisation allegedly believed a man had stolen a drug shipment. Prosecutors allege an associate lured the victim to a residence in Manteca, California.

The indictment alleges that Kaushal, along with co-defendants Amritpal Singh Bal, Harshpreet Singh, and Amarbir Singh, restrained the victim. Kaushal and Harshpreet Singh allegedly assaulted the victim before Kaushal, Bal, and Amarbir Singh transported him to an apartment in Fresno, California. The victim was allegedly held while gang members demanded $50,000, purportedly as compensation for the stolen drug shipment. Bhagwanpuria later allegedly directed the victim's release to resolve an internal dispute.

The Syndicate's Alleged Operations

According to the indictment, the organisation relied heavily on drug trafficking as a principal revenue source. Members allegedly coordinated transportation routes for cocaine and methamphetamine across the United States — typically collecting drugs in Southern California before transferring them to long-haul trucks headed east or toward the US-Canada border. Standard shipments allegedly contained 100 kilograms or more of cocaine or methamphetamine.

Prosecutors further allege the gang accepted murder-for-hire contracts, stole cocaine from rival trafficking organisations, and laundered proceeds back to leadership in India. The indictment also alleges the group worked with corrupt law enforcement officials in Punjab to file false criminal cases against rivals before demanding payments to have those cases dropped.

On recruitment, prosecutors allege the organisation targeted vulnerable young people in Punjab — including minors — promising money, notoriety, and opportunities abroad. Some recruits were allegedly paid as little as ₹20,000 (approximately $200) to commit murders on behalf of the group.

Bhagwanpuria's Background

The indictment alleges that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, the alleged founder, was once associated with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi before building an independent criminal network that prosecutors say eventually became a rival organisation with an international footprint across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

What Happens Next

Federal prosecutors have sought Kaushal's pretrial detention, arguing that no conditions could reasonably assure either his court appearance or community safety. Court filings state he posed a flight risk and a danger to the community, and noted he was 'an alien not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.' Kaushal's arrest is the first publicly confirmed capture following the FBI's appeal for public information earlier this week. The allegations in the indictment have not been tested in court, and Kaushal is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. US authorities are reportedly continuing to pursue remaining fugitives named in the case.