GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3221
ANSWERED ON - 07/08/2026
CROSS BORDER EXTORTION
3221. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that the US Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) has named a serving Punjab Police officer in an alleged
cross-border extortion case...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3221 ANSWERED ON - 07/08/2026 CROSS BORDER EXTORTION
3221. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has named a serving Punjab Police officer in an alleged cross-border extortion case involving an Indian-origin family based in the United States and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any formal communication, request for information or extradition request has been received by the Government from US authorities in this regard and if so, the action taken thereon; and
(c) whether the Government has received any other complaints or intelligence inputs regarding involvement of serving police officers in Punjab in extortion rackets, protection rackets or collusion with organized crime syndicates operating from abroad and if so, the corrective and preventive measures being taken to ensure institutional integrity of the State police force? 1ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) It has come to the notice of the Government that, during a press briefing held by the U.S. Department of Justice on 7 July 2026 in connection with a law enforcement action titled “Operation Hard Ball” and related indictments, allegations were made that members of the Bhagwanpuria transnational criminal syndicate had conspired with a Punjab Police officer in connection with an extortion scheme involving a U.S.-based Indian-origin family.
As per the press statement issued on 8th July 2026 by the Office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar Range, the concerned officer was immediately relieved from his post as Station House Officer
(SHO), Police Station Tanda. Following investigation, the officer was arrested on 17 July 2026 and departmental proceedings have been initiated.
No request for extradition of the said officer has been received from the U.S. authorities till date. ***** 2