A Washington state grocery store owner accused of taking at least $600,000 in federal food stamp benefits is back in the United States after fleeing to India, FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday.
Manjit Singh Bedi was one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters. Patel said on X that Bedi was arrested in India in September. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle also announced his return Thursday, and Fox News reported it Thursday night.
The charges
- The store: Bedi ran the Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington, which accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the FBI said.
- The alleged scheme: Instead of selling food, Bedi is accused of swiping customers’ EBT cards, handing them cash and keeping about half the benefits for himself.
- The amount: At least $600,000 between March 2024 and June 2025, according to the FBI.
- The case: A federal grand jury indicted him in April on wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud charges.
How he left the country
After the indictment, Bedi was allowed to appear in court without being arrested. He was ordered to give up his passport and stay in Washington state. The FBI said he drove into Canada and then fled to India.
A federal court in Tacoma issued a warrant for his arrest on May 21, 2026, for violating the terms of his release. The FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
FBI points to more returns
Patel said Bedi is one of six people on the Most Wanted Fraudsters list captured since the list was created. He said the bureau has secured 260 extraditions and removals over the past 20 months, more than 70% above the previous 20-month period.
“This is the latest in an unprecedented stretch of success in bringing high-value targets back to the United States through strong partnerships with our foreign law enforcement counterparts,” Patel wrote.
How to report SNAP fraud
SNAP is federally funded and run by the states. In Arkansas, the Department of Human Services runs the program. Trading benefits for cash is a federal crime. Tips can go to the USDA Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-424-9121.
Sources: FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI posts on X, Oct. 15, 2026; FBI Most Wanted Fraudsters notice for Manjit Singh Bedi; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington; Fox News.
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