U.S. federal prosecutors have charged alleged Bishnoi gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi and his suspected North American associate, Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, in connection with the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The charges are part of a broader investigation announced by U.S. authorities on July 8, involving three international criminal networks. In total, 37 individuals have been charged across multiple indictments related to racketeering, extortion, drug trafficking, and violent crimes.

According to the indictment, prosecutors allege that Bishnoi and Brar ordered Nijjar's assassination on June 18, 2023, outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Court documents claim Bishnoi supplied photographs and location details to co-conspirators to facilitate the attack.

The indictment marks the first official criminal filing directly outlining Bishnoi's alleged role in the killing, although media reports had previously linked his organization to the case.

Bishnoi and Brar face racketeering charges, with prosecutors also accusing them of overseeing extortion operations, drug trafficking, and organized criminal activities spanning several countries. U.S. authorities are seeking the extradition of Bishnoi, who has been imprisoned in India for more than a decade, along with several other accused individuals.

Officials allege the Bishnoi network operated across North America, Europe, and India by targeting business owners and influential members of the South Asian community. Victims were allegedly threatened with violence unless they paid large sums of money, while the gang reportedly used social media to publicize attacks and intimidate others.

Nijjar, a prominent advocate for an independent Sikh state, was fatally shot in June 2023. His killing triggered a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were linked to the assassination. India has consistently denied those allegations.

While the latest U.S. indictment focuses on the alleged role of the Bishnoi gang, it does not accuse Indian government officials of involvement in Nijjar's death.

The investigation, known as Operation Hard Ball, has resulted in 24 arrests so far, including several in Canada. Law enforcement agencies from the United States and Canada described the operation as a major step toward dismantling transnational criminal organizations involved in violence, extortion, and organized crime.

Canadian officials welcomed the arrests, calling them an important development for public safety, while Indian officials said the action demonstrates increased international cooperation against organized criminal groups.