Preetinder Singh Preet Bharara, born on October 13, 1968, is an Indian-born American lawyer and former federal prosecutor. He served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. Bharara’s impact on law enforcement and legal matters is significant:

Career Highlights:

Prior to leading the Southern District of New York, Bharara spent five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

His office achieved notable successes, including the prosecution of the Italian mafia, securing convictions against four out of the Five Families.

Bharara led various counter-terrorism investigations, particularly targeting Al-Qaeda.

His office employed unconventional tactics such as wiretapping and asset seizure to close cases.

He made headlines by prosecuting nearly 100 Wall Street executives for insider trading and securities fraud.

Settlements with the country’s four largest banks and the closure of multiple hedge funds were also part of his tenure.

Technocratic Approach:

Known for his technocratic style, Bharara pursued both Democratic and Republican politicians on public corruption charges.

He occasionally extended his reach extraterritorially, as seen in a 2013 Russian money laundering investigation that led to a permanent ban from Russia.

However, the prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade strained India–United States relations.

Dismissal and Current Role:

Following the election of President Donald Trump, Bharara was controversially dismissed after refusing to submit his resignation as part of the 2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys.

Today, Bharara continues his legal career as a partner at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. His legacy embodies dedication, strategic thinking, and a commitment to justice.