An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a US federal court to charges related to a murder-for-hire plot allegedly targeting Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Following the plea, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described Pannun as “a target of transnational repression.”
The case has drawn significant international attention due to its geopolitical implications and the involvement of multiple jurisdictions.
Guilty Plea in Manhattan Federal Court
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, 54-year-old Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to participating in a murder-for-hire conspiracy in 2023.
Prosecutors alleged that Gupta agreed to pay $100,000 for the assassination and handed over $15,000 as an advance to a person he believed to be a contract killer. The individual was, in fact, working as a confidential source for US law enforcement. Authorities said the alleged plot was thwarted before any harm occurred.
Gupta had initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea. Media reports indicate he could face a prison sentence of 20–24 years under the plea agreement, compared to a possible maximum of 40 years if convicted at trial.
FBI Statement on ‘Transnational Repression’
In a statement posted on social media, the FBI said the intended target became a victim of “transnational repression” solely for exercising freedom of speech in the United States.
Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, stated that US authorities would pursue accountability for any foreign-linked threats against US citizens.
US Attorney Jay Clayton said the accused “thought that from outside this country he could kill someone in it without consequence,” emphasizing that US law enforcement agencies would act decisively to protect individuals within their jurisdiction.
Allegations Involving ‘CC-1’
US prosecutors identified another individual, referred to in court documents as “CC-1,” described as a senior field officer with responsibilities in security and intelligence management. The US indictment later named Vikash Yadav in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
The US Department of Justice formally indicted Yadav in October 2024. He remains in India and has denied wrongdoing. Indian authorities have stated that he is no longer employed by the Government of India.
The Government of India has denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Who Is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
Pannun is a US-Canadian dual citizen and the leader of Sikhs for Justice, an organization advocating for the secession of Punjab. The group has been designated as unlawful under Indian law.
US authorities described the alleged targeting as linked to Pannun’s activism and public statements made within the United States.
Broader Implications
The case has heightened diplomatic sensitivities between India and the United States, particularly around issues of national security, sovereignty, and freedom of expression. US officials have framed the case as part of a broader effort to counter alleged transnational repression activities.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, and sentencing for Gupta is expected later this year.
