US Charges Punjab Police Officer Over Cross-Border Extortion Scheme

LOS ANGELES, CA- U.S. prosecutors have charged a Punjab police officer in a sweeping racketeering case, alleging he worked with an organized crime syndicate to falsely implicate victims in a murder case and extort money by threatening criminal prosecution.

The allegations are contained in one of three federal indictments unsealed on July as part of ‘Operation Hard Ball,’ a multinational investigation targeting transnational organized crime groups.

The indictment identifies Gurinderjit Singh, also known as Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, Gurinder Jeet Singh and Rajinder Singh, as a Punjab police officer charged with attempted interference with commerce by extortion.

According to the indictment, Gurinderjit Singh worked with members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organized crime group to falsely implicate victims in India in the January 2026 murder of a man identified only as “B.S.” and then demanded money to remove their names from the criminal case.

Announcing the charges in Los Angeles, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli said the indictment alleges the gang “would partner with corrupt law enforcement officials in India to falsely accuse enemies of crimes within India.”

Essayli said Gurinderjit Singh, identified by prosecutors as a police officer in Punjab, is charged with attempting to extort victims in Los Angeles by threatening to file false murder charges against them in India.

According to prosecutors, alleged Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang member Gurlal Singh provided information about one victim to Gurinderjit Singh “for purposes of falsely accusing” the individual of murder. The officer allegedly contacted the victim’s father and warned that the victim, his father and his sister would all be named as accused unless money was paid. Prosecutors further allege that on May 24, 2026, Gurinderjit Singh participated in a press conference in Punjab where he publicly accused members of the family of arranging “a contract” to have the victim murdered and announced they would be formally named as accused. The following day, according to the indictment, he allegedly told the victim’s father that “Gurlal” was “with me” and that two of the three family members could be removed from the case in exchange for payment.

The Jaggu Bhagwanpuria indictment alleges the criminal organization cultivated corrupt law enforcement officials in India and used false criminal cases as part of extortion schemes against perceived rivals. Prosecutors allege the group also engaged in drug trafficking, firearms dealing and other organized criminal activity.

The charges against Gurinderjit Singh are part of ‘Operation Hard Ball,’ in which U.S. prosecutors charged 37 defendants linked to three transnational organized crime groups. (IANS)