Washington: Nikhil Gupta has admitted in a U.S. court to conspiring to assassinate Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. The accused, who plotted the failed attempt on Pannun’s life, pleaded guilty on Friday to three criminal charges at the Manhattan Federal Court.
Gupta’s attorney has not commented on the case. During the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sara Netburn heard Gupta’s plea. According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, the 54-year-old Gupta admitted to paying for the murder plot and money laundering. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
Background on Gupta’s Detention
Gupta has been in a Brooklyn prison since June 2024, following his extradition from the Czech Republic, where he had been arrested a year earlier. Upon arriving in the U.S., he had claimed innocence, denying all charges.
The U.S. prosecutors allege that Gupta conspired with an Indian official to assassinate Pannun. The Indian government has distanced itself from the plot, emphasizing that it goes against official policy.
Who Are Nikhil Gupta and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.-based U.S.-Canadian citizen, leads the banned group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and is designated as a terrorist by India. He has a long history of making statements that promote violence against India and advocates for a separate Sikh homeland.
Nikhil Gupta’s name came under scrutiny in November 2023, when he was accused of plotting the murder of an Indian-origin American in New York by hiring a hitman. Friday’s hearing marks a significant development in this high-profile case.
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