A US federal judge has ruled that Nitish Kaushal, an alleged member of a Punjab gang, must stay in custody and be moved to California to face racketeering conspiracy charges. The judge determined that Kaushal should be detained pending trial due to concerns about community safety and his court appearance. Kaushal, also known as “Lala,” was arrested in Vermont after being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.
The court records show that Kaushal, facing a potential life sentence, is linked to a criminal enterprise involved in kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. Prosecutors argue that Kaushal, who entered the US illegally in 2022, poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk. He was arrested near the Canadian border after abandoning a vehicle and attempting to evade law enforcement.
Kaushal, accused of being part of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, allegedly recruited vulnerable youth in Punjab, including minors, by offering money and opportunities to migrate abroad. The group, described as a transnational criminal syndicate, operated globally and engaged in various illegal activities, including murder-for-hire contracts, drug trafficking, and extortion. Kaushal will now be transferred to Los Angeles to face the federal charges.
