Indian Man Pleads Guilty in Alleged Assassination Conspiracy Against Pannun

Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Manhattan in connection with a foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.

Gupta, 54, admitted to three charges — murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering — before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The offences carry a maximum combined sentence of 40 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29 by US District Judge Victor Marrero.

After the guilty plea, US Attorney Jay Clayton said Gupta had attempted to orchestrate the killing of a US citizen on American soil and would now face justice. US officials described the case as an example of efforts to counter what they termed “transnational repression”.

What Prosecutors Allege

According to US court filings, Gupta was recruited in May 2023 by co-defendant Vikash Yadav, described by American authorities as an individual working for the Indian government. US officials have alleged that Gupta acted at Yadav’s direction — an allegation India has denied.

Prosecutors say Gupta contacted a person he believed to be a criminal associate to arrange the killing for USD 100,000. That individual was actually a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In June 2023, an associate of Gupta allegedly paid USD 15,000 in cash to an undercover officer as an advance. The alleged plot was disrupted after US law enforcement intervened. Gupta has remained in US custody since his extradition from the Czech Republic in June 2024. He was arrested there in 2023 and had initially pleaded not guilty after being brought to the United States.

India’s Position

The Indian government has distanced itself from the alleged conspiracy, stating that such actions do not align with official policy. Following the US allegations, New Delhi established a high-level inquiry committee in November 2023 to examine the matter. The panel submitted its findings in January 2025 and recommended legal action, noting that the individual under scrutiny had a prior criminal background, though it did not publicly identify any official.

Who Is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

Pannun is the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a group banned in India. In 2020, he was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under anti-terror laws, accused of promoting separatism linked to the Khalistan movement.

His properties in Punjab have been attached by the National Investigation Agency. Pannun, originally from a village near Amritsar, has frequently issued video messages advocating for a separate Khalistan state and criticising the Indian government.

The case has added to diplomatic sensitivities between New Delhi and Washington, even as both countries continue broader cooperation on security and strategic matters.