NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Indian-born U.S. citizen Manjit Singh Bedi, wanted by the FBI over an alleged $600,000 fraud involving a federal food assistance program, has been arrested in Punjab, India, just days after the bureau announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Bedi, 65, was apprehended by Jalandhar Commissionerate Police in the Paragpur area of the city, according to Punjab Police officials. The FBI has since confirmed his capture and is working to secure his return to the United States.
Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who operated the Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington, is accused of defrauding the U.S. government of at least $600,000 between March 2024 and June 2025 through a scheme involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.
According to the FBI, Bedi’s store accepted SNAP benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards. Federal authorities allege that instead of selling eligible food to some SNAP recipients, Bedi swiped their cards and gave them cash worth roughly half the amount charged, keeping the remainder.
For example, prosecutors allege that a $200 EBT transaction could result in a recipient receiving $100 in cash while Bedi retained the other $100. The transactions were made to appear as legitimate grocery purchases, resulting in SNAP funds being transferred to the store’s bank account even though no groceries were sold.
Bedi was indicted in federal court on wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud charges. According to the FBI, he was initially allowed to appear in court without being arrested but was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state.
Authorities say he violated those conditions, drove across the U.S.-Canada border and subsequently fled to India. A federal arrest warrant was issued on May 21 by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington after he was charged with violating the conditions of his supervision.
The FBI recently added Bedi to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list and offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
His arrest in India, however, also involves a separate case.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said Bedi was taken into custody in connection with a case registered at Rama Mandi Police Station under provisions relating to cheating and criminal breach of trust, as well as the Punjab Travel Professionals’ Regulation Act. Indian authorities are investigating his activities, financial transactions, travel and possible associates.
Punjab Police said Bedi had previously operated transport businesses in Jalandhar before moving to the United States. His two sons are reportedly settled in the U.S.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced Bedi’s arrest, describing him as a fugitive wanted in connection with the U.S. SNAP fraud case.
The FBI’s case alleges that Bedi’s grocery store was authorized to accept SNAP benefits in February 2024 and that the fraudulent transactions began the following month. The alleged scheme continued through June 2025.
SNAP, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides food assistance to eligible low-income households. Benefits generally may be used to purchase qualifying food products but cannot legally be exchanged for cash.
Bedi has not been convicted of the federal fraud charges, and the allegations against him remain to be proven in court.
The FBI and U.S. authorities are now seeking to bring him back to the United States to face the pending case.
