Indian national admits role in plot to assassinate US Sikh leader | Crime News
Indian National Admits Role in Plot to Kill Sikh Leader, Claims Link to Indian Government
Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court on Friday to charges related to a scheme aimed at hiring a hitman to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist leader residing in New York. This incident has sparked allegations of involvement from an Indian government employee, which officials in New Delhi deny.
Pannun, who holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, is affiliated with Sikhs for Justice, an organization advocating for the secession of Punjab, a northern Indian state with a significant Sikh population. U.S. prosecutors say Gupta initiated contact with a hitman to carry out the assassination as part of a broader campaign to repress Indian dissidents abroad.
During the court proceedings, Gupta disclosed to Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn that he transferred $15,000 online while in India in 2023 to someone he believed would execute the assassination. However, this individual was a confidential source working for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky emphasized that Pannun became a target solely for exercising his freedom of speech. Gupta, who was arrested at Prague airport in June 2023 and subsequently extradited to the U.S., pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Gupta faces a potential prison sentence of 20 to 24 years, with a plea agreement stipulating a minimum of 20 years in custody. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29.
The case has heightened tensions between the United States, Canada, and India. Authorities from both North American nations assert that Gupta’s actions illustrate an ongoing pattern of transnational repression against Indian expatriates. These allegations have strained diplomatic relations among the countries.
James C. Barnacle Jr., head of the FBI’s New York office, further revealed that Gupta had associated with Vikash Yadav, an Indian intelligence officer allegedly orchestrating the plot. Yadav remains at large, and Indian officials deny any involvement in the matter, citing that such actions would contradict government policy.
Pannun, designated a “terrorist” by New Delhi, continues to advocate for his cause. Following the court hearing, he stated in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, “I’m not a terrorist” and expressed his commitment to promoting human rights in Punjab, asserting that he would not retreat from his mission even in the face of threats to his life.
Supporters of Pannun gathered outside the courthouse after the hearing, waving yellow “Khalistan” flags and expressing solidarity with their cause. Pannun described Gupta as merely “a foot soldier” and called on U.S. authorities to hold accountable those in India whom he claims sanctioned the murder plot.
“I am ready to take India’s bullet rather than take a step back and live like a slave,” he declared, underscoring his resolve to achieve an independent Sikh state.
