Preet Bharara (b. 1968) is an Indian-American lawyer and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009 and serving until 2017. He gained prominence for prosecuting high-profile cases involving securities fraud, organized crime, and public corruption, including successful prosecutions of several former New York state legislators and city officials. Bharara was fired by the Trump administration in March 2017, which attracted significant attention. After leaving government, he transitioned to become a legal commentator and podcast host, continuing to influence the legal field.