Why Indian-Origin Gurmeet Singh Lost His US Citizenship 15 Years After Brutal New York Rape Conviction

A US federal court has revoked the citizenship of 55-year-old Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin taxi driver serving a 20-year prison sentence for a 2011 kidnapping and rape, after determining he concealed his criminal history throughout the naturalisation process.

Revocation of US Citizenship

The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered judgment revoking Singh's naturalisation following a civil denaturalisation action filed by prosecutors. Indian-Origin Woman Sadhana Gollapudi Falsely Accused of ‘Visa Fraud’ in Viral Post, US Official Reacts.

This Convicted Rapist From India Is No Longer a US Citizen

This convicted rapist from India is no longer a U.S. citizen.

Gurmeet Singh concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalization process, and a federal court has now revoked his citizenship. @TheJusticeDept took this case across the finish line, and we will continue to… pic.twitter.com/EpfLmCtrSF

— Attorney General Todd Blanche (@AGToddBlanche) August 31, 2026

Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the ruling, emphasizing that fraudulent actions will not shield individuals from accountability. "American citizenship is not a shield for criminals,” Blanche said. “Gurmeet Singh, a convicted rapist from India, is no longer a US citizen. He concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalisation process, and a federal court has now revoked his citizenship. This department took this case across the finish line, and we will continue to move expeditiously on denaturalisation referrals. Fraudulently obtained citizenship will not protect criminals from justice," he added.

Justice Department Secures Denaturalisation of Convicted Rapist From India

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered judgment revoking the naturalization of convicted rapist Gurmeet Singh.

“American citizenship is not a shield for criminals,” said @AGToddBlanche. “Gurmeet Singh, a convicted rapist from India, is no longer a… https://t.co/87yWyRsRlU

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) August 31, 2026

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division added that Singh unlawfully acquired citizenship privileges by hiding severe criminal offenses.

Background and 2011 Assault Case

A native of India, Singh originally entered the United States in February 1992 as a temporary visitor on a visa authorized for no more than six months. He remained in the country without authorization for years until a family-based immigrant visa petition allowed him to obtain permanent residency in June 2000. In May 2011, weeks before filing his citizenship application, Singh was working as a taxi driver when he picked up a female passenger in Williamsburg who had fallen asleep during her ride home. According to court and Justice Department records, Singh drove her to an isolated location. When she awoke, she found him holding a knife against her throat. He threatened her, bound, gagged, and blindfolded her, removed her clothes, and raped her. The victim managed to escape at dawn and ran to passersby for help. Who Is Aman Gottumukkala? Know All About Indian-Origin Firebender Founder Who Joined Elon Musk’s xAI, SpaceX To Work on Next-Gen Coding AI.

Concealment and Subsequent Conviction

Singh withheld these actions during his naturalisation proceedings and officially became a US citizen on October 19, 2011. He was subsequently prosecuted and convicted in New York of first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping as a s*xually motivated felony, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence. US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York noted that the court’s decision sends a strong message regarding the legal consequences of obtaining citizenship through deceit.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2026 03:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).