The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of up to USD 50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group.
In a statement on X, the FBI said, "The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, wanted for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group which is allegedly engaged in a variety of violent acts in Southern California, and across the United States and Canada."
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
On July 1, 2026, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Singh in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles. He has been charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, conspiracy to interfere and attempted interference with commerce by extortion, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The FBI noted that Singh has ties to Sacramento and Fresno in California, as well as Canada, India, and Mexico.
Link to Nijjar Assassination
The announcement comes shortly after US federal prosecutors charged Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar with allegedly orchestrating the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.
According to the US Department of Justice, Bishnoi and Brar were among 37 defendants charged in three federal indictments as part of "Operation Hard Ball", a coordinated crackdown targeting India-based organised crime groups involved in violent crimes, extortion, and international narcotics trafficking.
Operation Hard Ball
Federal prosecutors alleged that Bishnoi and Brar ordered Nijjar's assassination, carried out by two gunmen who shot him outside a Sikh temple in Surrey. The indictments also named other alleged crime figures, including Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Singh Dhanda. Dhanda is accused of operating an international drug distribution network, while the Bhagwanpuria gang is described as a transnational criminal syndicate with members across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
US authorities reported that cocaine and firearms were seized during Operation Hard Ball.
Presumption of Innocence
The Department of Justice emphasised that "an indictment is merely an allegation" and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Diplomatic Context
The charges arise against the backdrop of diplomatic tensions following Nijjar's killing. Then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged credible intelligence linking Indian agents to the killing, which India rejected. Relations have since improved under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Ottawa no longer linking India to criminal activities on Canadian soil.
