Two Indians Among 28 Charged in US Election Fraud
Two Indian nationals are among 28 foreign nationals charged with election-related offences in California, the United States Department of Justice announced on October 19, 2026. The accused, all lawful permanent residents holding green cards, allegedly registered to vote or cast ballots despite not possessing American citizenship. Federal authorities arrested 11 individuals as part of a coordinated investigation into suspected electoral violations.
Two Indians Charged in California Election Fraud Case
The Indian nationals have been identified as Amandeep Kaur, 30, a resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, and Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67, who lives in Sacramento.
Federal prosecutors allege that Kaur fraudulently registered to vote in December 2022 and subsequently voted in the November 2024 presidential election. She also faces charges involving allegedly false statements in her citizenship application.
Shah is accused of registering and voting in the November 2024 election despite being ineligible. He faces a misdemeanor charge carrying a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison.
US Justice Department Launches Operation Protect the Vote
The charges were announced under Operation Protect the Vote, involving federal prosecutors across California.
Authorities said the defendants allegedly misrepresented their citizenship status while registering to vote. Some also face accusations of providing false information during naturalisation proceedings.
Certain felony charges carry maximum prison sentences of five years. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
California Disputes Federal Voter Fraud Allegations
The investigation comes amid a disagreement between the Trump administration and California officials over voter eligibility ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Federal authorities identified more than 20,000 individuals as potentially ineligible voters and sought verification of their citizenship status.
California officials have disputed broader allegations of widespread noncitizen voting, maintaining that such incidents are uncommon.
The federal government has initiated legal proceedings concerning the handling of potentially ineligible ballots, with the dispute continuing ahead of the elections.
