Indian-Origin Man Pleads Guilty in Failed Plot to Assassinate Sikh Separatist in US

Nikhil Gupta, an Indian-origin man accused of orchestrating a failed assassination plot targeting Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, pleaded guilty on Friday. He now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 24 years for his involvement in this high-profile case.

FBI Highlights Commitment to Protecting US Citizens

The FBI emphasized that this case underscores its dedication to safeguarding the United States from threats posed by foreign nationals who target individuals exercising constitutionally protected rights. In a post on X, the FBI stated, "Following an investigation by FBI New York and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to plotting to assassinate a US citizen in New York City."

Alleged Involvement of Indian Government Official

Court filings detail that Gupta was allegedly recruited in May 2023 by an Indian government official, Vikash Yadav, to arrange Pannun's killing. The indictment outlines a complex scheme where Yadav purportedly directed Gupta to hire a hitman for the assassination. However, Yadav was removed from his official position before formal charges were filed against him.

In response to US findings, the Indian government established a high-level committee in November 2023 to examine the allegations. This panel submitted its report just days before Donald Trump assumed office last year, recommending legal action against Yadav without explicitly naming him. The report noted that Yadav's "earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry."

Who is Nikhil Gupta?

Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian citizen and resident, described himself in electronic communications as an international narcotics and weapons trafficker, according to the US Attorney’s Office. In May 2023, Yadav allegedly recruited Gupta to orchestrate Pannun's assassination in the United States.

Acting on Yadav's instructions, Gupta contacted a person he believed to be a criminal associate, who was actually a confidential source for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This source introduced Gupta to a supposed hitman, who was in fact an undercover DEA officer. The indictment reveals that Yadav later agreed, through Gupta, to pay $100,000 for Pannun's murder, with an advance payment of $15,000 in cash delivered on June 9, 2023.

Details of the Plot and Connections to Other Incidents

In June 2023, Yadav allegedly provided Gupta with detailed personal information about Pannun, including his New York home address, phone numbers, and daily routine. Gupta is accused of passing this information to the undercover officer and regularly updating Yadav on the plot's progress, even sharing surveillance photographs of Pannun.

Gupta reportedly urged the officer to execute the killing quickly but cautioned against doing so during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, scheduled to begin around June 20, 2023. Notably, on June 18, 2023—two days before PM Modi's visit—masked gunmen killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader and associate of Pannun, outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada.

The following day, Gupta allegedly told the undercover officer that Nijjar "was also the target" and that "we have so many targets," adding there was "now no need to wait" to kill Pannun, as per the US Attorney’s Office.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and subsequently extradited to the United States. He has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including: