Punjab Police have arrested a 65-year-old Jalandhar resident who was recently placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) list of most-wanted fraudsters for his alleged involvement in a US government benefits fraud worth around $6,00,000 (approximately ₹ 5.6 crore).
Instead of facing the proceedings, he allegedly left the US and travelled to India through Canada. Police said the alleged scheme resulted in a loss of approximately $600,000 to the US government. Bedi had reportedly moved to the US in 2019, where both his sons are settled.
Punjab director general of police Gaurav Yadav said Bedi had been placed on the FBI’s wanted list in connection with an alleged fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the US. Jalandhar commissioner of police Satinder Singh said Bedi was allegedly operating an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington, where customers used government-issued electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to access SNAP benefits. Instead of supplying food items against the benefits available on the cards, Bedi allegedly swiped the customers’ EBT cards, gave them around half of the benefit amount in cash and retained the remaining amount for himself, according to the police.
After the alleged fraud came to light, US authorities served him a notice in April directing him to appear before the concerned court.
“The arrest of the accused has led to significant progress in the investigation of the case. He was allowed to remain out of custody while appearing in court but was ordered to surrender his passport and remain within Washington state.
The police are now conducting an in-depth investigation into his international travel records, financial transactions, possible associates and other links related to the alleged fraud committed abroad,” the police commissioner said.
Bedi had earlier been indicted on allegations of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud.
