An Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a failed assassination plot targeting a Sikh separatist in New York, highlighting a broader pattern of attacks against Sikh activists globally. The plot, prosecutors say, was tied to a campaign allegedly linked to officials within the Indian government, though India has rejected all accusations.
Gupta, 54, was extradited from the Czech Republic in 2024 to face charges of murder for hire and two counts of conspiracy. He admitted in Manhattan federal court to coordinating the assassination attempt against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen and lawyer for the advocacy group Sikhs for Justice, which supports independence for India’s Punjab state.
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The indictment reveals Gupta was recruited in May 2023 by Indian government official Vikash Yadav, associated with India’s Cabinet Secretariat, to arrange Pannun’s killing in New York. Prosecutors claim Gupta communicated with undercover agents posing as hitmen, discussing logistics and payments, and even forwarded sensitive details including the target’s address. He reportedly paid $15,000 as part of the scheme.
The case has stirred diplomatic tensions between India, the United States, and Canada. The U.S. has refrained from publicly implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Canadian officials, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have accused India of involvement in the 2023 murder of Sikh cleric Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, escalating diplomatic expulsions between Ottawa and New Delhi.
Prosecutors estimate Gupta faces up to 24 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, with his formal sentencing scheduled for May 29, 2026. Yadav, the alleged recruiter, remains at large and has also been indicted on similar charges.
The U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Jay Clayton, said, “Our message to all nefarious foreign actors should be clear: Steer clear of the United States and our people.” The case underscores ongoing concerns about global operations against Sikh separatists and the complexities of international law enforcement cooperation.
