US court: Nikhil Gupta a 'key participant' in Pannun murder plot
US court: Nikhil Gupta a 'key participant' in Pannun murder plot
Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire and conspiracy in a foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun; sentencing is set for May 29.
US federal court in Brooklyn on Friday described Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta as a 'key participant' in a murder-for-hire plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2023. Gupta pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a sentencing hearing set for May 29.
Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the United States in June 2024, where he has remained in custody in Brooklyn without bail.
Allegations describe a plan to murder Pannun on American soil, purportedly under the directions of an Indian government employee.
Pannun, identified as a India-designated terrorist with dual U.S.-Canada citizenship, was the target of the plot. Law enforcement officials characterized the case as a stark reminder of the ruthless lengths criminals will go to in pursuing illegal enterprises.
Gupta faces up to 40 years in prison at sentencing on May 29, and prosecutors are seeking a substantial term given the seriousness of the charges. India has denied involvement in such plots, saying the allegations contradict its policies.
