India-Born Manjit Singh Bedi on FBI Most Wanted List

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has added India-born Manjit Singh Bedi to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list over allegations of a large-scale benefits fraud scheme. Authorities say the naturalised United States citizen used a grocery store in Tacoma, Washington, to convert government food assistance into cash, causing losses of at least 600,000 dollars to the US government between March 2024 and June 2025.

Nature of the Alleged Scheme

According to the FBI, Bedi operated a small store known as Asian Grocery Store. The business was authorised to accept payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. Participants in the programme use Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to purchase eligible food items.

Investigators allege that instead of providing food, Bedi routinely swiped customers’ EBT cards and handed them cash. He is accused of retaining roughly half of the value of each transaction for himself. The practice, if proven, would have diverted funds intended for nutrition assistance into private pockets while leaving beneficiaries without the food the programme was designed to supply.

The period of the alleged activity stretches from March 2024 to June 2025. The cumulative loss attributed to the scheme stands at a minimum of 600,000 dollars.

Legal Proceedings and Flight

Bedi was indicted on charges of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud. Because of his lack of prior criminal history, he was permitted to appear in court without being taken into custody. A judge ordered him to surrender his passport and remain within the state of Washington while the case proceeded.

Authorities state that he disregarded those conditions. He is alleged to have driven across the border into Canada and subsequently travelled to India. On 21 May 2026, a federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma after he was charged with violating the terms of his supervision.

Current Status and Reward

The FBI lists Bedi as a naturalised US citizen who is currently believed to be residing in India. The agency has placed him on its Most Wanted Fraudsters list, a roster separate from the better-known Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, and is offering a reward of up to 150,000 dollars for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Officials have indicated that they are coordinating with Indian authorities and have a general idea of his possible location. Contact has also been made with family members in an effort to encourage his return to face the charges.

Broader Context of Benefits Fraud

SNAP is a federal programme intended to help low-income individuals and families obtain adequate nutrition. Fraud that converts benefits into cash undermines both the purpose of the assistance and public confidence in the system. Cases involving retailers who exchange benefits for cash have been prosecuted in multiple states over the years, often resulting in significant financial recoveries and criminal penalties when convictions are secured.

In Bedi’s case, the combination of the alleged financial scale, the breach of court-ordered restrictions, and the decision to leave the country elevated the matter to the Most Wanted Fraudsters list. The public reward and international dimension reflect the priority the FBI has assigned to locating him.

Description and Call for Information

Publicly released details describe Bedi as a male born in India on 11 January 1961, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI’s tip line.

The addition of his name to the Most Wanted Fraudsters list underscores the agency’s determination to pursue individuals accused of large-scale abuse of federal assistance programmes, even when they have left the United States. Whether Bedi will be located and returned to face the pending charges remains an open question that will depend on continued cooperation between US and Indian authorities and the flow of actionable information from the public.

For now, the case stands as a prominent example of alleged retailer-level SNAP fraud that escalated into an international fugitive investigation after the subject chose not to remain in the jurisdiction of the court.

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