FBI Arrests Indian-Origin Gangster Nitish Kaushal Near Canada Border After Days on the Run
Washington : Indian-origin gangster Nitish Kaushal, also known as “Lala” and allegedly linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, was arrested by the FBI just a kilometre from the Canada border after allegedly spending several days evading authorities. According to newly filed US court documents, Kaushal abandoned a mobile phone that investigators had been tracking and allegedly used a fake New Jersey driver’s licence in an attempt to conceal his identity.
Kaushal was arrested on July 16 in Alburgh, Vermont, shortly after being added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Federal prosecutors have now requested that he remain in custody until trial, arguing that he poses a serious danger to the public and is a significant flight risk.
Court documents reveal that a federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Kaushal on June 25 on charges of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. Authorities first attempted to arrest him on July 7, but he allegedly managed to evade capture. Prosecutors claim that after the indictment became public, Kaushal abandoned the phone investigators had been monitoring under a court-approved warrant and went into hiding.
According to investigators, Kaushal was eventually tracked down less than a mile from the Canadian border after reportedly abandoning a vehicle just feet away from the crossing. Canadian law enforcement had earlier spotted an unidentified person walking on foot in Canada, though court filings do not conclusively identify that individual as Kaushal.
The breakthrough came after a Vermont resident reported suspicious activity captured on home security cameras. The footage allegedly showed a man looking inside a parked vehicle before entering a nearby barn. When US Border Patrol agents located and questioned the suspect, prosecutors say he produced a New Jersey driver’s licence bearing someone else’s name.
Authorities later confirmed his identity through fingerprint analysis. Court documents also state that Kaushal admitted the licence was not his. Investigators further matched a distinctive lion tattoo documented during the investigation with the tattoo found on the man taken into custody, strengthening their identification.
The 44-page federal indictment, obtained by IANS, names Kaushal among 15 accused allegedly associated with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group. Prosecutors describe the organisation as a transnational criminal network that originated in Punjab and expanded its operations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The indictment alleges that the gang was founded by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who was previously associated with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi before forming a rival criminal network. Prosecutors claim the organisation has grown into a global syndicate with more than 1,000 members and associates, including over 100 members in the United States.
According to the charges, the organisation generated revenue through a range of criminal activities, including murder-for-hire, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, firearms trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling. Prosecutors allege that violence was routinely used to eliminate rivals, intimidate victims and safeguard the gang’s operations.
Kaushal himself is accused of participating in several violent crimes on behalf of the organisation. One key allegation relates to an incident on July 10, 2024, in California. Prosecutors claim gang members believed a man had stolen a drug shipment belonging to the organisation. According to the indictment, the victim was lured to a residence in Manteca, where Kaushal and three other accused allegedly restrained and assaulted him.
The victim was then allegedly transported to an apartment in Fresno, where he was held captive while gang members demanded $50,000 as compensation for the allegedly stolen drugs. Court documents state that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria later ordered the victim’s release to settle an internal dispute within the gang.
The indictment further alleges that the organisation operated large-scale cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking routes across the United States, moving shipments weighing over 100 kilograms from Southern California to the eastern US and the Canada border. Prosecutors also accuse the gang of carrying out contract killings, stealing narcotics from rival groups and attacking individuals suspected of stealing drug consignments.
Federal prosecutors have also outlined Kaushal’s immigration and criminal history. According to court filings, he allegedly entered the United States illegally through Yuma, Arizona, in 2022. He was later charged in 2023 with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons offences but was ultimately convicted on a firearms-related charge and sentenced to 60 days in custody. Prosecutors also allege he was involved in a separate misdemeanor drug case in 2026.
Citing the seriousness of the charges, the strength of the evidence and Kaushal’s alleged efforts to evade arrest, federal prosecutors have urged the court to deny him bail. They argue that his actions demonstrate both the ability and intent to flee, making continued detention necessary to ensure public safety and his appearance in court.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
