Indian Man Charged by Prosecutors in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot Targeting Sikh Activist in the US
Federal prosecutors unveil charges against an Indian man for orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh activist in NYC, as revealed in a newly unsealed indictment
An Indian national has been charged by federal prosecutors with attempting to hire a hitman to assassinate a Sikh political activist in New York City. Nikhil Gupta, 52, allegedly paid an undercover officer $100,000 to carry out the murder. The victim, an unnamed US citizen who is described as a lawyer and vocal critic of the Indian government, was the intended target.
According to US officials briefed on the matter, the individual targeted is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of "Sikhs for Justice," an organization based in New York that has advocated for a separate Khalistan state through referendums. This group is deemed illegal in India, and its website is not accessible within the country. Gupta, who faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, was apprehended in the Czech Republic in June and is currently detained under a bilateral extradition agreement.
Gupta is accused of collaborating with an Indian government official who identified himself as a "senior field officer" with intelligence duties and was allegedly the mastermind behind the assassination plot from India.
Pannun stated that the attack on his life is a danger to freedom of speech and democracy, and further complicates US-India relations following the recent assassination of another Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.
Pannun stated that the assassination attempt on his life in the United States is a clear example of India's transnational terrorism, posing a threat to America's sovereignty and democratic values. He also expressed his willingness to pay the ultimate price for advocating for the Khalistan Referendum. CNN has requested a response from the Indian government.
Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Canada in June, with the Canadian government stating that it had credible information linking India to the murder. The Indian government has denied the allegation.
During a Sikh rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto, people are seen stomping on an Indian flag and a cutout of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The rally aimed to raise awareness about the Indian government's alleged involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on September 25, 2023. This powerful image captured by Cole Burston/AFP/Getty Images captures the intensity of the protest.
Nijjar and Pannun were identified as associates by US prosecutors since both were leaders of the Sikh separatist movement. Gupta is accused of informing a supposed hitman just one day after Nijjar's death that Nijjar was also a target, stating "we have so many targets." The indictment states that Gupta was recruited by an Indian government official to "orchestrate" the assassination and, at the official's direction, contacted someone in June who he believed to be a hitman to murder Pannun, who was actually working with law enforcement.
According to prosecutors, the Indian official provided Gupta Pannun's home address, phone numbers, and information about his daily activities. The official allegedly also sent Gupta a video of Nijjars' "bloody body slumped in his vehicle" shortly after the murder took place. Gupta reportedly instructed the supposed hitman to carry out the murder "as soon as possible," but told them to avoid committing the crime during anticipated high-level U.S. and Indian government official engagements.
This story has been updated with additional details.
