The FBI has scored another major victory in its crackdown on financial fugitives after Manjit Singh Bedi, a suspect accused of stealing at least $600,000 from the U.S. government through an alleged SNAP benefits fraud scheme, was arrested in India.
Bedi, 65, was taken into custody by authorities in Jalandhar, Punjab, after being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list. His arrest reportedly marks the fifth capture connected to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative in roughly three months.
According to the FBI, Bedi is a naturalized U.S. citizen who operated Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington.
Federal investigators allege that between March 2024 and June 2025, Bedi exploited the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, by processing customers’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards without providing qualifying groceries.
🚨 @FBI's fifth 'Most Wanted Fraudster' captured after alleged SNAP scam suspect arrested in India
Manjit Singh Bedi allegedly defrauded the government of at least $600,000 through scheme at a Tacoma grocery store.
“As this arrest in India shows, the Justice Department's reach…
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) September 5, 2026
Instead, authorities claim he would swipe customers’ EBT cards, give them cash and allegedly keep approximately half of the proceeds for himself. The scheme allegedly resulted in losses of at least $600,000 to the federal food assistance program.
Bedi was indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud and pleaded not guilty during an April 2026 court appearance.
He had reportedly been ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state while the federal case proceeded. However, authorities allege that Bedi violated those conditions by traveling across the border into Canada before eventually fleeing to India.
A federal arrest warrant was issued on May 21, 2026, for violating the conditions of his supervision.
The FBI later offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction as authorities intensified efforts to locate him.
That international search has now ended with Bedi’s capture in Punjab.
U.S. authorities are reportedly working toward having him returned to the United States, where he could face the charges against him in federal court.
The dramatic arrest adds another chapter to the FBI’s expanding campaign against fugitives accused of major fraud schemes involving American taxpayers and government programs.
Bedi remains accused, and the charges against him have not been proven in court.
