Jalandhar, 04 September (H.S.): In a major breakthrough in the campaign against organised crime and international fugitives, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has arrested Manjit Singh Bedi, a wanted accused in the United States’ high-profile SNAP fraud case.

Bedi was wanted in connection with an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a US government food assistance scheme for low-income families. He had reportedly fled the United States and entered India via Canada in April 2026 to evade legal action.

According to the case details, Bedi operated a small grocery outlet named Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington. He was authorised to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards issued to SNAP beneficiaries. However, investigators alleged that instead of selling eligible food items, he swiped customers’ cards and provided them cash, while retaining around 50 per cent of the amount for himself.

Bedi is accused of defrauding the US government of at least $600,000, approximately Rs 5.3 crore, between March 2024 and June 2025.

Following the investigation, he was charged with wire fraud and SNAP benefit fraud. He had initially been allowed to remain out of custody on the condition that he surrender his passport and stay within Washington state.

However, Bedi allegedly violated the court-imposed conditions and crossed the border by road into Canada before travelling to India. After his escape, a federal arrest warrant was issued against him on May 21, 2026, by the US District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma.

US investigating agencies subsequently placed him on a most-wanted fraudsters list. Punjab Police intelligence teams later traced Bedi’s network and movements in the state. Acting on specific inputs, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police carried out an operation and arrested him.

The police are now examining his contacts and activities in India. Authorities are also coordinating with US agencies and other concerned departments for further legal proceedings, including the possible extradition process. The arrest is being seen as a significant development in the effort to track fugitives accused of financial crimes abroad who attempt to evade law enforcement by crossing international borders.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH