Punjab-based gangster Nitish Kaushal, an alleged associate of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, has been arrested in the US state of Vermont, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Thursday. His arrest comes just weeks after US authorities launched a major crackdown on organised crime networks with links to India under an operation called Operation Hard Ball.
Kaushal had been among the individuals still at large after dozens of alleged members of the Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria and Dhanda organised crime groups were charged by US authorities.
Nitish Kaushal is #wanted by the #FBI for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organization engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. This… pic.twitter.com/xuEXpJIx6u
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) July 14, 2026
Arrest follows RICO charges
According to US court records, an arrest warrant was issued against Kaushal on June 25 by the US District Court for the Central District of California. He has been charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Conspiracy (RICO).
Explaining the allegations against him, the FBI said, “Kaushal is wanted for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organisation engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.
This organisation, known as the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group (the “Bhagwanpuria OCG”), originated in the Punjab state of India and operated in the Central District of California and elsewhere. Kaushal is alleged to have carried out acts of violence on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including, but not limited to, kidnappings and assaults.”
US authorities have said that most of those charged in the case, including Kaushal, could face “a mandatory minimum prison sentence between 10 years in federal prison and life imprisonment, and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison”.
Operation Hard Ball targets India-linked gangs
Kaushal’s arrest follows the filing of charges against 34 individuals linked to the Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria and Dhanda organised crime groups. Of them, 15 people were arrested during Operation Hard Ball, while Kaushal was among the accused who were initially not in US custody.
The US Justice Department has identified the Bhagwanpuria gang as a criminal network that originated in Punjab under the leadership of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is currently imprisoned in India. Once an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu later became his rival.
According to US authorities, the gang now has more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including over 100 in the United States. Investigators also say the organisation has a presence in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The Justice Department has further alleged that the gang worked with corrupt law enforcement officials in India to extort money from victims. In one of the cases cited by US authorities, Punjab police officer Gurinderjit Singh has been charged with acting as an associate of the gang and allegedly demanding around $400,000 from a Los Angeles-based family.
FAQs:
Why was Nitish Kaushal arrested in the US?
He was arrested over alleged involvement in a RICO conspiracy linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group.
What is Operation Hard Ball?
It is a US law enforcement operation targeting organised crime groups linked to India, including the Bishnoi, Bhagwanpuria and Dhanda gangs.
