New York, United States — Web Desk: An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a US federal court to charges related to a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, according to US prosecutors and court filings.
Nikhil Gupta admitted in a Manhattan federal court to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy with a hired killer, and money laundering, prosecutors said. He had previously been charged with planning the killing of Pannun, a New York-based Sikh activist and leader of the group Sikhs for Justice.
US prosecutors said the plot was directed by a senior Indian government official, though New Delhi had earlier rejected the allegations as baseless when they first emerged.
Court documents said Gupta attempted to hire a contract killer and provided information about the intended target, but US authorities uncovered the plan in time, preventing the attack. Gupta was extradited to the United States in 2024 to face trial.
Prosecutors estimate Gupta could face up to around 40 years in prison under federal law following his guilty plea.
US officials have said the case is linked to broader allegations of threats and attacks against Sikh activists worldwide, raising concerns in Washington and contributing to diplomatic sensitivities between the United States and India.
Pannun, a US citizen, is known for advocating the Khalistan separatist movement and has been active in campaigns related to Sikh self-determination.
According to Bloomberg, Gupta was arrested in June 2023 in the Czech Republic and later extradited to the United States. The report said Gupta, a businessman, was allegedly tasked by an Indian intelligence officer, identified as Akash Yadav, and was promised relief from legal cases in India. Bloomberg also reported that investigators found extensive digital communications between the suspects, including discussions about targets, weapons, and planning, and that Indian authorities acknowledged possible agent involvement and dismissed one individual from the intelligence agency.
The case has added strain to India’s diplomatic relations with the United States, Canada, Pakistan, and Nepal, amid allegations of cross-border targeting of Sikh activists.
