Who Is Nikhil Gupta, Nabbed For Planning Khalistani Terrorist Pannun's Assassination In the US?

An Indian individual was charged by the US Justice Department in connection with "his involvement in a thwarted plot to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin in New York," on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The individual, identified as Nikhil Gupta aka Nick, alleged 'murder-for-hire' charges. The citizen's name was not disclosed in the Justice Department document, but the charges followed an alleged assassination plot targeting Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as per a report by the Financial Times.

Who Is Nikhil Gupta?

According to a press release by the US Justice Department, a 52-year-old Indian national named Nikhil Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30, under the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. Collaboration on a plot to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin, residing in New York City, involved Nikhil Gupta and an unnamed Indian government employee, referred to as CC-1. The document indicated that Nikhil Gupta, described as an associate of CC-1, has been working with others in India and elsewhere on the scheme.

What Are The Alleged Charges Against Nikhil Gupta?

• In communications with CC-1 and others, Nikhil Gupta acknowledged his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking.
• According to the document, CC-1 recruited Nikhil Gupta in May 2023 to lead the orchestration of an assassination.
• Nikhil Gupta reached out to an individual he believed to be a criminal associate in May 2023 to seek assistance in hiring a hitman in New York, stated the document.
• Both the individual and the purported hitman were revealed to be cooperating with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).
• A deal was negotiated, and in June, Nikhil Gupta provided personal information about the target to the undercover hitman.
• The document noted the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and highlighted that Nikhil Gupta informed the undercover officer (purported hitman) that Nijjar was among several targets.
• Nikhil Gupta travelled from India to the Czech Republic on or about June 30, where he was subsequently arrested by authorities at the request of the United States.

Latest Update On Nikhil Gupta Case

United States court has requested the federal government to respond to a motion filed by Nikhil Gupta's lawyers in the murder plot case involving Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta's legal representatives have requested materials related to the charges against him in the conspiracy.

"The Court hereby directs the government to file a reply to the Motion to Compel within three days of the date of this order," stated US District Judge Victor Marrero in the order, referring to the motion filed on January 4, 2024, by the defence counsel seeking the production of discovery.

What Was India's Response?

The US allegation of a government official directing a murder plot on American soil has been termed a "matter of concern" by India. It was announced that a high-level probe committee would thoroughly investigate the matter. At a media briefing on November 30, 2023, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, "As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to government policy.'"

India's efforts to investigate the matter have been welcomed by the US. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on Thursday, "The (Indian) government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks."