Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty In US Court To Orchestrating Failed Assassination Plot Against Khalistani Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

New York: Nikhil Gupta, accused in the foiled assassination plot of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has pleaded guilty in a New York court. The 54-year-old Indian national pleaded guilty to three criminal charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026.

What Is The Case?

According to US prosecutors, Nikhli Gupta agreed to arrange the killing of Pannun and had attempted to hire a hitman for $100,000 in New York. The individual he believed to be a contract killer was, in fact, an undercover federal agent. The alleged plan was intercepted before any attack could be carried out. It is alleged that a former Indian intelligence officer named Vikash Yadav had recruited Gupta to kill Pannun. US prosecutors accused Pannun of plotting with the Indian government to kill Pannun.

Who Is Nikhil Gupta?

Nikhil Gupta is an Indian national who came into international focus after US authorities accused him of being involved in the alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting Pannun. According to US federal agencies, Gupta is also an international narcotics and weapons trafficker. Gupta, arrested in 2023 in Czech Republic, was extradited to US in 2024 to face trial and has since ben lodged in Brooklyn jail. 

Who Is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

American-Canadian lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a Khalistani terrorist, who leads the US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group. He is a prominent proponent of the Khalistan movement, advocating for an independent Sikh state. India has designated him a terrorist. His SFJ group is also banned in India and has been declared an unlawful group. According to the government, Sikhs for Justice has been indulging in activities, which are prejudicial to internal security of India and public order, and have the potential of disrupting peace, the unity and integrity of the country.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pannun has issued threats of dire consequences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He is under investigation in 20 criminal cases in India.

Pannun had announced a reward of $2,50,000 for murdering Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar, Major General Keshav Padha, Brigadier lsrar Khan and Colonel Jasbir Rana over Operation Blue Star. In 2023, Pannun, through a video message, admitted that on his instructions, Pro-Khalistani slogans, “84 Indira Thoki, 86 Vaidya Thokea, 2024 KS Brar Thoko, $1 Million- SFJ Khalistan Zindabad" were inscribed by SFJ activists in the native village of Lieutenant General Brar. He also announced a reward of $1 million for sharing information on Brar's whereabouts.

India's Stand On The Assassination Plot

Indian government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged assassination plot against Pannun. Foreign Secretary Vikrim Misri earlier said, “These are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations."