The US said it was “satisfied” after meeting with The Indian Commission of Inquiry was set up to investigate the foiled assassination plot of Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said New Delhi had informed the person accused of leading the assassination plot on American soil “is no longer an employee of the Indian government.”
While speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Miller was asked about the meeting with the investigative committee in Washington, to which he replied: “We have received an update from them on the investigation that they are conducting. It was a productive meeting. “
“They (the commission) have indeed informed us that the individual who was named in the DOJ indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government,” he added.
The State Department spokesman also stressed that the US is “pleased with the cooperation” of the Center.
“We continue to work with them on this, but we appreciate the cooperation and we appreciate them keeping us updated on their investigation as we update them on ours.”
However, he did not comment on further meetings with the committee.
Apart from investigating the foiled plot to kill the Khalistan terrorist, the commission of inquiry is also investigating the activities of certain organized criminals.
In November 2023 US prosecutors filed charges against Indian national Nikhil Guptafor his involvement in the plot along with the alleged Indian government official targeting Pannun in New York.
Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and extradited to the US on June 14.
After his extradition, he appeared in federal court in New York, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
He faces charges of murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Pannun holds dual US-Canadian citizenship and is wanted in India on terrorism charges. He has been designated a terrorist under the tough anti-terrorism law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
India has denied any involvement in the alleged assassination attempt on Pannun and has also done so a high-level investigation has been launched in the charges.
