Gangster Nitish Kaushal Arrested in US Days After FBI Put Him on Most Wanted List
Alleged gangster Nitish Kaushal, also known as “Lala”, has been arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Vermont, just days after being placed on the agency’s Most Wanted list. The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the FBI’s ongoing crackdown on transnational organised crime networks with links to India, particularly the Punjab-based Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime syndicate.
According to the FBI, Kaushal is an alleged member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, which originated in Punjab and later expanded its operations into the United States, including California. He is accused of participating in violent crimes such as kidnappings and assaults and of being part of a broader criminal enterprise involved in murder, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling.
Kaushal had been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list only two days before his arrest, with the agency describing him as armed and dangerous and warning that he posed a significant flight risk. A federal arrest warrant had been issued on June 25 by the US District Court for the Central District of California after he was charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, a law commonly used to prosecute organised crime syndicates.
The arrest was carried out as part of Operation Hard Ball, an FBI initiative targeting organised criminal networks with international links. The operation follows the recent arrest of multiple alleged members of India-linked organised crime groups in the United States, reflecting an intensified effort by American authorities to dismantle transnational criminal organisations operating across borders.
Following the arrest, the FBI updated Kaushal’s wanted notice to reflect his status as “captured.” While the agency has confirmed the arrest, it has not yet disclosed detailed information regarding the circumstances of his apprehension or the next stages of the criminal proceedings.
The Bhagwanpuria gang has long been associated with organised criminal activities in northern India, including extortion, targeted killings and gang rivalries. US authorities allege that elements of the syndicate expanded their activities overseas, prompting coordinated investigations by federal law enforcement agencies into their financial networks, logistics and criminal operations.
Kaushal’s arrest is being viewed as a significant success for US law enforcement in its campaign against international organised crime. The case also underscores increasing cooperation between agencies investigating cross-border criminal syndicates, as authorities continue efforts to trace networks involved in violent crime, illicit finance and transnational trafficking.
