Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, pleaded guilty Friday in a U.S. Federal court to charges related to a foiled plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Khalistani separatist leader residing in the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan.
Gupta admitted to counts of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His guilty plea represents a reversal from his initial not guilty stance entered in June 2024, following his extradition from the Czech Republic, where he was arrested in June 2023.
Prosecutors allege Gupta conspired with an Indian government official to carry out the assassination of Pannun, a U.S. And Canadian citizen. The indictment centers on a $100,000 agreement Gupta allegedly negotiated with an individual he believed to be a hitman – who was, in fact, an undercover U.S. Federal agent – as detailed in wiretapped conversations and electronic communications.
The case has strained diplomatic relations between India, the United States, and Canada. New Delhi has publicly distanced itself from the plot, asserting that such actions are inconsistent with government policy. Still, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Gupta was recruited by Vikash Yadav, identified as a former official with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), to coordinate the assassination.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Yadav in late 2024, but he remains in India. Although the Indian government has acknowledged Yadav’s past employment with R&AW, it has not signaled any intention to extradite him. An internal Indian inquiry reportedly found Yadav had “criminal links” but characterized the operation as a “rogue” act, denying official state sponsorship.
Gupta’s plea avoids a trial initially scheduled for March 30, which was expected to present substantial evidence linking him to the plot. The U.S. Government has recommended a sentence of 21 to 24 years in prison. Senior U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero will determine Gupta’s sentence at a future hearing.
The case is likewise linked, according to prosecutors, to a broader conspiracy involving the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was fatally shot in Western Canada in June 2023. The U.S. Department of Justice stated in October 2024 that the right to free speech must be protected, even from threats originating outside U.S. Borders.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has yet to release a formal statement detailing the full scope of Gupta’s cooperation or any potential impact on the investigation into the alleged involvement of Indian government officials.
