An Indian nationwide has pleaded responsible in a US courtroom to plotting the assassination of a Khalistani terrorist and US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York in a $100,000 murder-for-hire scheme that US prosecutors say was directed by an Indian authorities worker.The US Division of Justice stated Nikhil Gupta, 54, pleaded responsible earlier than US Justice of the Peace Decide Sarah Netburn to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Might 29, 2026, earlier than US District Decide Victor Marrero.Based on the Justice Division, the plot focused Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin and chief of a US-based Sikh separatist group advocating for the creation of Khalistan.“Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a US citizen in New York Metropolis,” stated US Lawyer Jay Clayton. “He thought that from outdoors this nation he might kill somebody in it with out consequence, merely for exercising their American proper to free speech. However he was unsuitable, and he’ll face justice. Our message to all nefarious overseas actors must be clear: keep away from america and our individuals.”
How the $100,000 homicide plot was arrange
Based on the Second Superseding Indictment and statements made in courtroom, Gupta labored with others in India and elsewhere, together with co-defendant Vikash Yadav, who US authorities recognized as an Indian authorities worker.Yadav was employed by the Authorities of India’s Cupboard Secretariat, which homes India’s overseas intelligence service, the Analysis and Evaluation Wing.“In or about Might 2023, YADAV recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Sufferer in america,” the Justice Division stated.At Yadav’s course, Gupta contacted a person he believed to be a prison affiliate. That particular person was the truth is a confidential supply working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.The confidential supply launched Gupta to a purported hitman who was truly a DEA undercover officer.“YADAV subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by GUPTA, to pay the UC $100,000 to homicide the Sufferer,” the discharge stated. “On or about June 9, 2023, YADAV and GUPTA organized for an affiliate to ship $15,000 in money to the UC as an advance fee for the homicide.”
Surveillance, directions and timing
Prosecutors stated Yadav supplied Gupta with the sufferer’s dwelling handle in New York Metropolis, telephone numbers and particulars about his day-to-day conduct. Gupta allegedly handed that info to the undercover officer and supplied Yadav with common updates, together with surveillance images.Gupta directed that the homicide be carried out shortly however instructed that it mustn’t happen across the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state go to to america in June 2023.On June 18, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot lifeless in British Columbia. The Justice Division stated Nijjar was an affiliate of the supposed sufferer and a pacesetter within the Sikh separatist motion.“On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar homicide, GUPTA advised the UC that Nijjar ‘was additionally the goal’ and ‘we have now so many targets.’ GUPTA additionally added that, in gentle of Nijjar’s homicide, there was ‘now no want to attend’ on killing the Sufferer,” the discharge stated.Gupta was arrested within the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and later extradited to america.
Costs and potential sentence
Gupta pleaded responsible to murder-for-hire, which carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a most sentence of 10 years, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering, which carries a most sentence of 20 years.“The utmost potential sentences on this case are prescribed by Congress and supplied right here for informational functions solely, because the sentencing of the defendant shall be decided by a choose,” the Justice Division stated.
US businesses react
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky stated, “Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for-hire plot in opposition to a U.S. citizen, a homicide that was prevented due to the actions of U.S. legislation enforcement. The U.S. citizen grew to become a goal of transnational repression solely for exercising their freedom of speech. The message from the FBI must be clear—regardless of the place you might be positioned when you attempt to hurt our residents we is not going to cease till you might be dropped at justice.”DEA Administrator Terrance Cole stated, “It’s usually a slippery and harmful slope from drug trafficking to lethal violence, as demonstrated by the murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by worldwide narcotics and weapons trafficker Nikhil Gupta. This case is a stark reminder of the ruthless lengths criminals will go to to be able to additional their unlawful enterprises. I commend the women and men of DEA’s New York Job Pressure Division for his or her excellent investigative work efficiently foiling Gupta’s assassination plot. Let there be little doubt: DEA stays steadfast in its mission to guard America. We are going to proceed to leverage our superior investigative experience and unmatched intelligence capabilities to dismantle the drug trafficking networks that threaten our security and well-being of our communities.”FBI Assistant Director in Cost James C. Barnacle, Jr. stated, “On the course and coordination of an Indian authorities worker, Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a United States citizen on American soil, facilitating a overseas adversary’s illegal effort to silence a vocal critic of the Indian authorities. The FBI will proceed to aggressively defend the homeland in opposition to any overseas adversaries who goal our residents for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”The case is being dealt with by the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York, together with the FBI and DEA. Gupta stays in custody and shall be sentenced later this yr.
