Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty in US Plot

Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US federal court to charges linked to a murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Appearing before a Manhattan court under the jurisdiction of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Gupta admitted that he paid $15,000 as an advance to a person he believed was a contract killer in mid-2023. Prosecutors said he had agreed to pay a total of $100,000 for the assassination.

Gupta pleaded guilty to three counts: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which together carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29 by US District Judge Victor Marrero.

Authorities allege that Gupta was recruited by Vikash Yadav, described in the indictment as a senior field officer with intelligence responsibilities. Yadav was later formally indicted by the US Department of Justice in October 2024 and remains in India. India has stated that it is no longer employed by the government.

Investigators said Gupta unknowingly dealt with a confidential source and an undercover officer posing as a hitman. The intended target, Pannun, heads Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India.

US authorities have also referenced the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada while outlining the broader context of the case.

The Indian government has maintained that such actions do not align with official policy and previously constituted a high-level inquiry into the allegations.