New Delhi: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his aide Goldy Brar with the high-profile killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
It has also arrested 24 individuals with alleged links to at least three criminal gangs from India, including those having connection to Bishnoi and Brar.
“Today’s law enforcement action – “Operation Hard Ball” – is the result of a years-long federal investigation into Indian crime syndicates that engage in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, the trafficking of bulk quantities of narcotics across international borders, and other crimes around the world whose impact is especially felt in the Indian diaspora,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“In total, 37 defendants – including two defendants who ran their global criminal syndicates while imprisoned in India – are charged across three indictments unsealed today. Those arrested in the United States – 11 in California, one in Indiana, and one in Georgia – are expected to make their initial appearances today [Tuesday] in federal court,” it added.
.@USAttyEssayli addressed the media in Los Angeles today to announces arrests and criminal charges against members of India-based organized crime syndicates. Also addressing the press were @FBILosAngeles Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy, @LAPDPoliceChief , and… pic.twitter.com/DgzXRe9RQZ
— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) July 7, 2026
The alleged gang members were captured across North America and Europe, including one from Canada and one from Spain, showcasing the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies across the Atlantic Ocean.
The three gangs that have been charged through the Department of Justice’s actions are those led by gangsters Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Singh Dhanda. The move to charge members of these gangs for crimes across North America is significant, as India has consistently maintained the necessity to take action against such transnational criminal organisations.
“Bishnoi presided over a sweeping criminal enterprise that spanned multiple continents. Using contraband cellphones and other voice-over internet protocol devices smuggled into his jail cell, Bishnoi personally directed political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other crimes committed by members and associates of the Bishnoi enterprise worldwide,” said the statement.
It added: “Among the crimes alleged in the indictment is the assassination of a prominent political and religious leader – identified in court documents as “H.S.N.” [Hardeep Singh Nijjar] – from India’s Punjab state and who was living in Canada at the time of his death. Bishnoi and Brar are charged with ordering this assassination, which occurred when two gunmen shot and killed H.S.N. as he left a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.”
On Wednesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Goldy Brar, whose original name is Satinderjeet Singh.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 in exchange for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group, targeted in today's "Operation Hard Ball." The group is allegedly… pic.twitter.com/HAmfMHBI7G
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) July 8, 2026
The Canadian government in September 2023 accused Indian officials of being linked to the killing of Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India. India has rejected the allegations and consistently pointed out the growing space given to extremist groups and transnational criminal gangs in Canada.
The allegations surrounding the killing of Nijjar led to a cratering in ties between New Delhi and Ottawa. However, the diplomatic relationship between India and Canada have seen massive improvement in recent months following the election of Mark Carney as the Canadian Prime Minister in April 2025.
Apart from charging Bishnoi, Brar and other gang members with extortion, the US Department of Justice has also highlighted the drug trafficking operations allegedly committed by members of the gang.
“The indictment charges Bishnoi, Brar, Godara, and six other defendants with one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act), six counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely cocaine and methamphetamine,” it said.
Charges against Bhagwanpuria & Dhanda
Bhagwanpuria was a one-time associate of Bishnoi, before becoming a rival gangster allegedly running his own transnational criminal organisation. Both Bishnoi and Bhagwanpuria are in Indian custody.
“Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, 38, of Punjab, India, a gangster imprisoned in India, is an associate-turned-rival of Bishnoi, and founded his own criminal enterprise in India’s Punjab state. The Bhagwanpuria gang operates as a transnational criminal syndicate headquartered in India with members across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand,” said the statement.
“To expand its power, this group corrupted law enforcement officers in India and partnered with corrupt government officials, including to assist in extortion schemes. It also provided false information to law enforcement officers in India regarding alleged crimes.”
A case cited by the US Department of Justice includes an alleged extortion attempt by Gurlal Singh, in California. Singh allegedly attempted to extort another individual living in the US, with family members living in India.
Singh allegedly “threatened a victim and then provided the victim’s name to a corrupt law enforcement officer in Punjab.” The allegedly corrupt law enforcement officer then filed cases against the victim’s family member in India and attempted to allegedly extort the victim’s family members.
Dhanda from Vancouver, Canada and his associates allegedly smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from the US to Canada weekly.
“The cocaine and methamphetamine were concealed and transported on long-haul semi-trucks from the greater Los Angeles area – including Los Angeles, West Covina, Ontario, Fontana, and Perris – to the U.S.-Canada border. Sometimes, farm trucks from working farms were used to hide the narcotics en route to Canada,” said the statement.
“The indictment charges one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to export controlled substances, one count of operating a continuing criminal enterprise, and five counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.”
The indictments filed by the US Department of Justice is an allegation of crimes committed. None of these gang members have yet to be convicted by the courts.
(Edited by Tony Rai)