Los Angeles: An active Indian police official has been formally charged by United States authorities following an alleged multi-million-dollar extortion scheme targeting a family in Los Angeles. The official, identified in federal indictments as Gunder Preet Singh, is accused of using his position to demand $400,000 under the threat of filing fabricated murder charges against the family’s relatives living in India.

The charges were unveiled on July 7, 2026, as part of a major federal crackdown on a transnational organised crime network. According to a report by Fox LA, the investigation revealed that Singh allegedly followed through on his threats by initiating false murder cases against the victims' family members until they agreed to meet his financial demands.

During a press conference announcing the unsealed indictments, officials confirmed that the case is part of a multi-year collaborative probe involving various US law enforcement agencies. US First Attorney Bill Essayli stated that authorities intend to pursue extradition for the official. While Singh was not reported to be in US custody at the time of the announcement, officials expressed confidence that they would eventually secure his apprehension.

The extortion scheme is allegedly linked to the "Bhagwanpuria gang," a criminal syndicate led by the imprisoned gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. Authorities allege that this group, which boasts a membership of approximately 1,000 individuals, has systematically weaponised institutional corruption by colluding with compromised law enforcement officers in India to intimidate and extort victims based in California.

This case is one of three major indictments unsealed against 37 defendants connected to India-based organised crime groups. The broader investigation into these syndicates—which include the Lawrence Bishnoi enterprise—has uncovered a range of criminal activities, including murder-for-hire, weapons trafficking, and extensive narcotics smuggling pipelines across North America.

Federal authorities noted that the syndicate's operations have terrorised communities across the United States. In addition to the extortion charges against the police official, the investigation has led to the arrest of at least 15 defendants currently residing in the US illegally, underscoring the transnational nature of the criminal network. As the legal proceedings move forward, the US government is prioritising the extradition of foreign nationals involved in these cross-border crimes.