A US federal indictment has revealed that the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, a transnational criminal syndicate with roots in Punjab, India, allegedly recruited vulnerable young Indians by promising money, power, and migration opportunities to countries including the United States and Canada — while reportedly paying some recruits as little as ₹20,000 (approximately $200) to commit murder on behalf of the organisation. The 44-page indictment, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, charges 15 defendants and offers an unusually detailed look into the alleged recruitment machinery of a criminal network that prosecutors say now spans multiple continents.

The Indictment and Key Arrests

The court filing charges 15 individuals, including alleged gang leader Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Indian national Nitish Kaushal, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Vermont this week after being placed on its Most Wanted list. Prosecutors allege that Bhagwanpuria initially operated under the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime group before breaking away to build an independent international criminal network headquartered in India, with members spread across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

How the Gang Allegedly Recruited Youth

According to the indictment, the organisation deliberately targeted 'vulnerable, disadvantaged populations in India' and specifically sought to recruit minors, exploiting the fact that juveniles face lower criminal penalties for violent offences. Recruitment coordinators allegedly lured young people with promises of money, notoriety, power, and the ability to escape India. In certain parts of the country, the group reportedly paid recruits as little as ₹20,000 — roughly $200 — to carry out killings on the organisation's behalf.

Prosecutors further allege that recruiters actively sought individuals who could qualify for student visas or foreign work visas. Members who proved their loyalty were allegedly rewarded by being sent to operate in foreign countries, effectively using legitimate visa pathways as a cover for overseas criminal expansion.

Scale of Operations and Criminal Activities

The indictment alleges the organisation eventually grew to more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including over 100 in the United States alone. Members allegedly engaged in a broad range of criminal activities: murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, firearms trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. Prosecutors contend that proceeds from these activities were routinely funnelled back to the organisation's leadership in India.

The gang allegedly accepted murder-for-hire contracts, established drug trafficking routes across North America, smuggled firearms into Canada, and coordinated violent crimes remotely from India using encrypted communication platforms and contraband mobile phones. Members reportedly gathered personal information about victims' relatives in India and threatened family members to enforce extortion demands.

Internal Discipline and Alleged Corruption

The indictment paints a picture of an organisation that used violence not only against rivals but also to maintain internal order. Members allegedly understood it was 'difficult, if not impossible' to leave the group, and believed that perceived disloyalty could result in harm to themselves or their family members in India. Prosecutors allege the organisation threatened — and in some cases carried out — violence against members who were suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that gang members worked with corrupt law enforcement officials in Punjab, providing false information against rivals to generate fabricated criminal cases, which were then used as leverage to extort money from victims. Those allegations remain unproven in court.

What Happens Next

The case, filed in the Central District of California, is expected to proceed through the US federal court system. The arrest of Nitish Kaushal in Vermont marks one of the first confirmed FBI apprehensions linked to the indictment. Legal proceedings against the remaining defendants — many of whom are believed to be operating outside the United States — are likely to involve international law enforcement cooperation. The indictment's allegations, while sweeping, remain charges and have not been proven in court.