Indian National Admits Guilt in US Court Over Assassination Plot Against Khalistani Terrorist
In a significant legal development, an Indian national has pleaded guilty in a United States court for his involvement in a meticulously planned assassination plot targeting a prominent Khalistani terrorist and US citizen. The case, which has drawn international attention, revolves around a $100,000 murder-for-hire scheme that US prosecutors assert was orchestrated under the direction of an employee of the Indian government.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Details
The US Department of Justice confirmed that Nikhil Gupta, aged 54, entered a guilty plea before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Gupta faced charges including murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, and will be presided over by US District Judge Victor Marrero.
According to official statements from the Justice Department, the intended victim was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin who leads a Sikh separatist organization based in the United States. This group actively advocates for the creation of an independent Khalistan.
"Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a US citizen in New York City," declared US Attorney Jay Clayton. "He mistakenly believed that operating from outside the country would allow him to kill someone with impunity, merely for exercising their American right to free speech. However, he was gravely mistaken and will now face the full force of justice. Our message to all malicious foreign actors is unequivocal: stay away from the United States and our citizens."
Unraveling the $100,000 Murder-for-Hire Scheme
Court documents and official indictments reveal that Gupta collaborated with individuals in India and other locations, including co-defendant Vikash Yadav. US authorities have identified Yadav as an employee of the Indian government, specifically within the Cabinet Secretariat, which oversees India's foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing.
The Justice Department detailed that "in or about May 2023, YADAV recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States." Following Yadav's instructions, Gupta reached out to someone he believed to be a criminal associate. Unbeknownst to him, this individual was actually a confidential source cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This confidential source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in reality an undercover DEA officer. "YADAV subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by GUPTA, to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim," the release stated. "On or about June 9, 2023, YADAV and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder."
Surveillance, Instructions, and Timing of the Plot
Prosecutors disclosed that Yadav supplied Gupta with comprehensive details about the victim, including his home address in New York City, phone numbers, and insights into his daily routines. Gupta allegedly transmitted this information to the undercover officer and provided Yadav with regular updates, which included surveillance photographs.
Gupta emphasized that the murder should be executed swiftly but issued a specific instruction: it must not coincide with the Indian Prime Minister's official state visit to the United States in June 2023.
In a related incident, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot in British Columbia on June 18, 2023. The Justice Department noted that Nijjar was an associate of the intended victim and a key figure in the Sikh separatist movement.
"On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, GUPTA told the UC that Nijjar 'was also the target' and 'we have so many targets,'" the release explained. "GUPTA also added that, in light of Nijjar's murder, there was 'now no need to wait' on killing the Victim."
Gupta was apprehended in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and subsequently extradited to the United States to face charges.
Legal Charges and Potential Penalties
By pleading guilty, Gupta admitted to:
- Murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
- Conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, also with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering, which can result in up to 20 years imprisonment.
"The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge," clarified the Justice Department.
Reactions from US Law Enforcement Agencies
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky remarked, "Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for-hire plot against a U.S. citizen, a murder that was prevented thanks to the actions of U.S. law enforcement. The U.S. citizen became a target of transnational repression solely for exercising their freedom of speech. The message from the FBI should be clear—no matter where you are located if you try to harm our citizens we will not stop until you are brought to justice."
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole stated, "It is often a slippery and dangerous slope from drug trafficking to deadly violence, as demonstrated by the murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by international narcotics and weapons trafficker Nikhil Gupta. This case is a stark reminder of the ruthless lengths criminals will go to in order to further their illegal enterprises. I commend the men and women of DEA’s New York Task Force Division for their outstanding investigative work successfully foiling Gupta’s assassination plot. Let there be no doubt: DEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect America. We will continue to leverage our superior investigative expertise and unmatched intelligence capabilities to dismantle the drug trafficking networks that threaten our safety and well-being of our communities."
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. added, "At the direction and coordination of an Indian government employee, Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a United States citizen on American soil, facilitating a foreign adversary’s unlawful effort to silence a vocal critic of the Indian government. The FBI will continue to aggressively defend the homeland against any foreign adversaries who target our citizens for exercising their constitutionally protected rights."
The case is being managed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, in collaboration with the FBI and DEA. Gupta remains in custody as he awaits his sentencing later this year.
