New Delhi: A corrupt inspector who threatened to charge an innocent person with a murder if he did not pay up, a friend turned rival, a man who threatened someone as he was detained at an immigration facility, an expert Signal user when it came to issuing threats and a man who liked to call himself ‘Rolex’. The US’s ‘Operation Hard Ball’ names and essays the roles of gangsters and their associates who allegedly sold arms, extorted individuals, transported drugs and more – some, seemingly from within the walls of India’s most well-guarded jails. Here are the 37 names and the alleged roles they had. The first indictment1. Lawrence BishnoiOne of the indictments’ most famous names is Lawrence Bishnoi, who at 33 is described as a gangster who has presided over a sweeping criminal enterprise that spanned multiple continents.Bishnoi is imprisoned in the Sabarmati Central Jail. The indictment says that Bishnoi has projected an image of himself as a “patriot,” “nationalist,” and deeply religious individual through social media posts and interviews with news organisations. It says that he has used this public image to recruit members and associates to his crime syndicate in India, the United States, and elsewhere, presiding over a “sweeping criminal enterprise that spanned multiple continents.”Using contraband cellphones and other voice-over internet protocol devices smuggled into his jail cell, Bishnoi personally directed political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other crimes committed by members and associates of the Bishnoi enterprise worldwide, the indictment says.Bishnoi is named for ordering the assassination of June 2023 assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Canadian government in September 2025 designated the Bishnoi enterprise as a terrorist entity.In India, Bishnoi is known for orchestrating the 2022 killing of singer and rival Sidhu Moosewala, and for threats to actor Salman Khan over the killing of black bucks, which the Bishnoi community considers sacred.2. Satinderjeet Singh Singh, more famous as ‘Goldy Brar’ in India is a man who helped manage the Bishnoi Organised Criminal Gang’s day-to-day operations, the indictment says. Singh, 32, a childhood friend of Bishnoi’s, is the North American leader of the Bishnoi enterprise and is mentioned as one of the “trusted lieutenants and regional leaders” to whom Bishnoi relegated control.According to the indictment, Brar effectively spoke for Bishnoi and helped direct acts of violence committed by the gang’s members and associates in the US, Canada, and elsewhere.Singh, like Bishnoi, is named for ordering the assassination of June 2023 assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Singh has, among other things, charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in India, over the killing of Sidhu Moosewala.3. Rohit GodaraRohit Godara, 37, of Rajasthan, is identified as the European leader of the Bishnoi enterprise.According to the indictment, he, along with Brar, acted as Bishnoi’s lieutenant, directing targeted killings, shootings, kidnappings, maimings, assaults, extortions, and drug trafficking.Godara’s alliases are ‘Guru’, ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Rawata Ram’, ‘Rawata Das’, and ‘Pawan Kumar.’Among various roles for which Godara is indicted is his social media post claiming responsibility for the murder of Sunil Yadav in Stockton, the conspiracy to extort an undercover informant without realising it, and more.A 2023 profile of Godara’s on Newslaundry which had essayed his humble beginnings and initial days as a phone technician, said that before he fled abroad, he participated in Hindu Navvarsh (new year) rallies in Bikaner and Jodhpur, organised by RSS affiliates. But Jethanand Vyas, former coordinator of Hindu Jagaran Manch, an RSS affiliate which organised the Bikaner rally, claimed no such invitation had been sent to Godara and that he had attended it out of his own volition.4. Sukhraj Singh Kang Kang, 58, is described as a high-level, India-based lieutenant in the Bishnoi OCG, who would direct and coordinate acts of violence committed by Bishnoi OCG members and associates in the US, Canada, and elsewhere, including, but not limited to, targeted killings, shootings, kidnappings, maimings, and assaults.Along with Bishnoi, Singh and Godara, he would identify victims to extort in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, including, in particular, prominent cultural, political, and business leaders in Indian diaspora communities, the indictment says.Kang would, along with others, collect information on extortion targets, oversee and manage transportation of banned drugs, including 49 kilograms of cocaine in Fontana, California. Kang spoke to the character identified as CI-1, a confidential informant working with law enforcement multiple times, assuring him that they would get money out of an undercover law enforcement agent, UC-1.5. ‘Bhulwan’The person whose alias is identified as ‘Bhulwan’, is categorised as ‘FNU LNU,’ acronyms which stand for ‘First Name Unknown, Last Name Unknown’. ‘Bhulwan’ is a member or associate of the Bishnoi OCG. Bhulwan is identified as among those who would allegedly run racketeering activity, contact extortion targets, threaten them and their families, and so on.The indictment alleges that Bhulwan, among others, spoke over Signal to ‘UC-1’ – an undercover law enforcement agent – multiple times, directing UC-1 to make multiple payments of thousands of US dollars and threatening him, often in Punjabi. Bhulwan was also among gang members who contacted one SS, the owner of a UK trucking company and commanded him to pay 250,000 GBP.6. ‘Rajan Bhatti’The man whose alias is ‘Rajan Bhatti’ is categorised as FNU LNU and also functions under the names ‘Victor’, ‘Kala’, and ‘Vankit.’A member of the Bishnoi OCG, Bhatti is accused of participation in the violent activities and extortion of the group as his co-indicted.Bhatti was held by the Punjab State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Mohali, in 2024. In a report from then, he is identified as an aide of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa. Bhatti allegedly confessed to coming into contact with Punjab-based drug smugglers while in New Delhi’s Tihar jail.The indictment shows that by the time it was 2025, Bhatti was seemingly free to be in contact with UC-1 over WhatsApp, sending messages and voice notes to him asking for large sums of money and threatening to kill him if he did not pay up. 7. ‘Sumit’This member of the Bishnoi gang is also FNU LNU, but performed broadly the functions of extortion for which the others have been named. Sumit too spoke to UC-1 over Signal, falsely believing that he was extorting him.8. ‘Kamal’Mentioned as ‘No Name Given Kamal,’ this member, the indictment says, “would collect extortion payments from extortion targets on behalf of the Bishnoi OCG.”Kamal would assist with the transfer of funds received by the Bishnoi OCG, including from extortion payments and drug trafficking activity, to other members and associates of the Bishnoi OCG, including to members located in India.For instance, on May 29, 2025, Kamal received, on behalf of the Bishnoi OCG, a $15,000 extortion payment in a parking lot in Riverside, California.9. Kestutis BauzaBauza would, along with Kamal, collect extortion payments from targets on behalf of the Bishnoi OCG. In April, Bauza would receive a $20,000 extortion payment from a courier for UC-1 in a parking lot in Commerce, California.The Second Indictment1. Jaggu BhagwanpuriaBhagwanpuria, 38, of Punjab is a gangster imprisoned in Assam’s Silchar Central Jail. Bhagwanpuria is an associate-turned-rival of Bishnoi, and is identified as having founded his own criminal enterprise in Punjab. The Bhagwanpuria gang operates as a transnational criminal syndicate headquartered in India with members across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. This group includes more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, and more than 100 members and associates in the United States.Crucially, the indictment notes that to expand its power, this group corrupted law enforcement officers in India and partnered with corrupt government officials, including to assist in extortion schemes. It also provided false information to law enforcement officers in India regarding alleged crimes. 2. Gurlal SinghGurlal is also known as ‘Gurlal Rudiana’ and ‘Gullu.’According to the indictment, Gurlal Singh is a 22-year-old who resided in Stockton, California, after entering US illegally from India. Singh is identified as among those who sold firearms for the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including semi-automatic rifles, a machine gun and pistols.Singh threatened a victim and then provided the victim’s name to an allegedly corrupt police officer, Gurinderjit Singh, in Punjab, the indictment claims. This ultimately led to the victim, the victim’s father, and the victim’s sister being falsely accused of the January 2026 murder of one Balwinder Singh in India.Below is a post in which another member, Gurdev Singh ‘Jashal Chambal’, claimed responsibility for Balwinder’s murder.Photo: US DoJ indictment.It also led to the corrupt policeman Gurinderjit Singh extorting the victim and the victim’s father in connection with that pending murder case. 3. Sahibdeep Singh Sahibdeep, aka ‘Anmol,’ would sell firearms to generate revenue for the Bhagwanpuria gang and played a key role in the collection, storage, transport, and delivery of bulk quantities of cocaine and heroin.On June 1, 2025, Sahibdeep was enlisted by Gurpreet ‘Harman’ Singh to receive, store, and transport approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine in the Los Angeles area.Sahibdeep was also part of arms-selling assignments.4. Amritpal Singh Bal Amritpal, 32, who also has the alias ‘Bal’ conspired with others to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, the indictment finds.5. Gurinderjit SinghGurinderjit, also known as ‘Gurinderjit Singh Nagra’, ‘Gurinder Jeet Singh’, and ‘Rajinder Singh,’ is a police officer who after consultations with Bhagwanpuria gang-member Gurlal Singh agreed to charge a person close to Balwinder Singh for his murder.He also threatened others with criminal charges if they did not pay him. On May 24, 2026, Gurinderjit Singh participated in a press conference in Punjab allegedly lying about the role that these others had played in Balwinder’s death. Punjab Police noted that Inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra is at present posted as SHO, Police Station Tanda of Hoshiarpur district. Gurinderjit has been shifted to Police Lines, Hoshiarpur now.6. Nitish Kaushal Nitish aka ‘Lala’, 26, is named as a member or associate of the Bhagwanpuria gang.7. Gurpreet Singh ‘Harman’Gurpreet, or ‘Harman,’ in 2024, sold approximately 5.02 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine to CI-1 for $45,000. Gurpreet is recorded as having done this on the orders of Amritpal Singh Bal.8. Harshpreet Singh Harshpreet, the indictment says, would carry out acts of violence on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including, but not limited to, kidnappings and assaults.He restrained a person identified as ‘victim 1’ at Bal’s direction at a residence in Manteca, California, over a stolen drug load.9. Amarbir SinghAmarbir Singh is part of the group that restrained ‘victim 1’ mentioned above.Bal, Kaushal and Amarbir Singh transporting ‘Victim 1’ from Manteca, California to an apartment inFresno, California. Photo: US DoJ indictment.10. Mandeep KaurMandeep, aka ‘Cheema,’ on May 22, 2025, agreed to transport approximately 80 to 100 kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles, California to Indianapolis, Indiana at a price of $500 per kilogram.Between June 3, 2025 and June 5, 2025, Mandeep transported approximately 99.2 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and approximately one kilogram of heroin, in a long-haul semi-truck from Barstow, California to Greenfield, Indiana.11. Luis Angel Salas-Puebla Salas-Puebla is mentioned as having conspired with others of and associated with the Bhagwanpuria gang to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess controlled substances including five kilograms of a cocaine-containing mixture and one kilogram of a heroin-containing mixture.12. Miguel Angel Ortiz III Ortiz, alias ‘Victor’, is also among those who conspired with others of and associated with the Bhagwanpuria gang to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess controlled substances.13. Gurdev SinghA member of the Bhagwanpuria syndicate, Gurdev Singh, 26, is alleged to have attempted to extort a family living in the Midwest while he was being held in ICE custody, including by threatening to “put bullets in your kids.”“Save your family, alright. Now, listen to me, my group had asked for money and now many groups are going to ask. I will tell everyone to fuck you. Now my brother, stay strong, alright. Money, now we will extort it from you, it’s not 15 lakhs now, it’s 50 lakhs, alright. We negotiated 15 lakhs with you and now we will extort 50 lakhs from you,” he reportedly said, according to the indictment.Gurdev is also known as ‘Jassal Chambal.’Gurdev played a key role in claiming responsibility for the murder of Balwinder in India, and was part of the team that planned the Instagram post announcing it.He also attempted to extort a business owner in Ohio.14. Garinder DeoGarinder Deo, 40, is also known as ‘Doctor’, ‘Rocket’, and ‘Ritz Carlton’. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, and though not charged as a member or associate of the Bhagwanpuria criminal group, allegedly helped enrich the group by purchasing bulk quantities of cocaine and heroin that were to be shipped from Southern California to the eastern United States with the assistance of members and associates of the Bhagwanpuria enterprise. This included the attempted shipment in June 2025 of 99.2 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin that law enforcement ultimately intercepted. 15. Gurpreet SinghThis Gurpreet Singh is a separate defendant from Gurpreet ‘Harman’ Singh, named earlier in this section. On June 26, 2024, at Bal’s direction, Singh allegedly sold approximately 5.02 kilograms of a mixture containing cocaine to a confidential informant for $45,000, then collected and transported that $45,000 in proceeds. He is charged alongside Bal in a conspiracy count tied to at least five kilograms of cocaine, and the indictment says he would collect and transport drug proceeds from cocaine sales on the group’s behalf.16. Hardeep SinghThirty-year-old Hardeep Singh, worked with Sahibdeep Singh to collect, transport, and deliver bulk quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for the Bhagwanpuria OCG, the indictment alleges.The duo had reportedly been part of the June 2025 delivery of cocaine and heroin to Mandeep Kaur in Barstow, California, for further transport to Indiana.17. Major SinghMajor Singh is accused, along with Gurlal Singh and Sahibdeep Singh, of selling firearms to generate revenue for the Bhagwanpuria gang. The indictment describes the group selling semi-automatic rifles, a machine gun, and pistols to a confidential informant.The third indictment1. Ravinder Singh Dhanda, Dhanda, 57, is also known as ‘Randy,’ ‘Rolex,’ ‘Jim’, ‘Daytona’, and ‘John Wick’ and lives in Vancouver, Canada, According to the indictment, Dhanda operated a drug distribution network that provided international smuggling services for bulk quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in the US, Canada, and Mexico. He negotiated transportation rates and logistics with these DTOs and subcontracted the storage and transportation of these drugs.The cocaine and methamphetamine were concealed and transported on long-haul semi-trucks from the greater Los Angeles area – including Los Angeles, West Covina, Ontario, Fontana, and Perris – to the U.S.-Canada border. Sometimes, farm trucks from working farms were used to hide the narcotics en route to Canada.The indictment specifically alleges the shipment of 430.1 kilograms of cocaine from July 2023 to November 2024. 2. Jaskarn BaghriBaghri, 50, is also called ‘Baba’ and ‘Pete,’ and lives in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, Baghri too transported, smuggled, and distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine each week from the U.S. into Canada, the indictment says. 3. Gurtej Singh SmaghSmagh, 43, is also known as ‘Simba’. Smagh is of Creston, British Columbia, Canada.He is charged in the same indictment alleging that he had a role in the smuggling of cocaine and methamphetamine from the US to Canada.Smagh was among those who met with CI-1 in South Surrey, British Columbia to coordinate logistics for smuggling future loads of banned substances. 4. Harmanveer SinghHarmanveer, also known as ‘Hari Gautam’ and ‘Harman Sandhu’, 32, is alleged to have overseen and managed the long-haul trucks used by the Dhanda organisation to transport cocaine and methamphetamine from Southern California to the US-Canada border. The indictment identifies him as part of the group’s transportation network for bulk drug shipments into Canada.5. Prince Pal SinghPrince Pal Singh, 26, allegedly received cocaine and methamphetamine from couriers, stored them, verified coded token information and loaded shipments onto trucks heading to Canada.6. Narain Singh GurmNarain is also known as ‘Naraw Singh Gurm’ and ‘Narayan Singh.’ The 53-year-old had an alleged role in the efforts to transport the aforementioned drugs from the US to Canada.The charges of the next five are the same as above.7. Javier Ureta Angulo,8. Justin Guzman,9. Bryan Moreno Rosales,10. Jaspreet Khara, and 11. Amritpal Singh.