Gurpatwant Pannu Murder Conspiracy: Prime accused Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty in US court

New York: Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen accused of plotting the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, has pleaded guilty to the charges. He has filed a petition in a US court. The incident took place on February 13 in Manhattan federal court, where Gupta pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to murder and money laundering. According to US prosecutors, the plot was hatched at the direction of an Indian government official. However, the Indian government has distanced itself from the plot, stating that it was against government policy. Gupta had previously denied the allegations in June 2024, but has now pleaded guilty.

When did the plot come to light?

The plot came to light in 2023 when US authorities foiled an assassination attempt on Pannu in New York City. Pannu is a dual US-Canadian citizen. He is a supporter of the Khalistan movement and the head of Sikhs for Justice, an organization that seeks a separate sovereign state for Sikhs. According to US prosecutors, Gupta planned the murder with an Indian government official and also paid $15,000 in cash to an individual in the US. After the plot failed, Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and later deported to the US in 2024.

What was stated in the petition?

The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed that Gupta filed the petition before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Gupta's lawyers did not immediately comment. This case is also believed to be linked to the murder of another Sikh separatist in Canada, which has strained India-US and India-Canada relations. The US has demanded an investigation from the Indian government, but India has denied any government involvement.

What will be the impact of this incident?

This development is significant in international diplomacy as it involves a conspiracy to commit murder on American soil by a foreign government. Nikhil Gupta's next sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 15. This case has again brought into focus India's position on the Khalistani issue, where India considers it linked to terrorism while leaders like Pannu call it freedom of expression. This admission could impact further investigations into the perpetrators behind the plot.