Introduction
A shocking scandal has emerged in 2025, implicating Satpal Jamba, a close political ally of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from Haryana. Exclusive reports from Patrick Reports and court records reveal Jamba’s alleged role in a human trafficking network smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States via Latin America.
The Allegations Against Satpal Jamba
Satpal Jamba, elected to the Haryana Legislative Assembly in 2024, stands accused of orchestrating an international smuggling operation. According to a 2020 case, SATPAL V. STATE OF HARYANA, filed in the Punjab-Haryana High Court, Jamba allegedly took ₹18 lakhs ($24,000) from complainant Aman Kumar to facilitate his illegal migration to the US. The journey involved a perilous route through Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and Mexico, coordinated with Jamba’s brother in Ecuador, before Kumar was detained by US Border Police for a year.
A Habitual Offender Rises to Power
Court documents, accessible via Indian Kanoon, label Jamba a “habitual offender” with 16 FIRs for similar trafficking crimes under India’s Emigration Act. Despite bail denial in 2020, Jamba evaded jail time, reportedly with support from Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, a Modi ally. By 2024, he secured a BJP ticket and a legislative seat, raising questions about political protection amid allegations of evidence suppression.
US Border Crisis and Trump’s Response
The scandal coincides with a surge in Indian illegal crossings into the US, particularly via Mexico, as noted by Reuters. On February 5, 2025, a US military plane deported 104 Indian immigrants, including many from Haryana, spotlighting trafficking networks. Local reports, like those on Voice of Panipat, allege Jamba’s long-standing role in exploiting vulnerable citizens.
Implications for Modi’s BJP
Jamba’s proximity to Modi—evidenced by multiple photographs—and his rise within the BJP fuel claims of government complicity in smuggling operations exploiting US border vulnerabilities. As the Trump administration ramps up deportations, this case could strain US-India relations and demand accountability from Modi’s administration in 2025.