In a significant development, the Department of Justice has unsealed a superseding indictment against an unidentified Indian government official and an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, for an alleged plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader who is a dual US-Canadian citizen.
Although the indictment did not disclose the identity of the target, media reports have identified Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, affiliated with a US-based Sikh activist group.
Gupta, 52, was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30, 2023, following a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.
The Washington Post reported, quoting “people familiar with the matter,” the plot was foiled by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Gupta is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of [co-conspirator-1] and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 [co-conspirator-1] and others,” according to a Justice Department press release. “CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.”
The indictment reveals that earlier this year, the Indian government employee, in collaboration with Gupta and others, directed a plot to assassinate Pannun, who is of Indian origin residing in New York City.
Gupta, described as an international narcotics and weapons trafficking associate, was recruited by the Indian official to orchestrate the assassination of the victim, an attorney and political activist critical of the Indian government.
Pannun, a leader of the Sikh separatist movement advocating for the secession of Punjab, has been a vocal critic of the Indian government. The Indian authorities have banned him and his organization from India.
Gupta, acting under the direction of the co-conspirator, contacted a confidential source working with US law enforcement for assistance in contracting a hitman to carry out the murder. Unbeknownst to Gupta, the source was an undercover US law enforcement officer.
The Indian government employee agreed to pay $100,000 for the assassination, with Gupta arranging an initial advance payment of $15,000 to the undercover officer. Gupta provided personal information about the target, including his home address and daily activities, to facilitate the plot. The plan included regular updates on the progress of the assassination, with Gupta forwarding surveillance photographs of Pannun to the co-conspirator.
The Justice Department said the plot took a turn on June 18, when masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an associate of the Pannun, in British Columbia, Canada. Gupta informed the undercover officer that Nijjar “was also the target” and urged the immediate execution of the plan, according to the indictment.
Gupta now faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The investigation involved collaboration between the DEA’s New York Division, the FBI’s New York Field Office Counterintelligence Division, and international partners.
Assistant US Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexander Li are prosecuting the case, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Counterterrorism Section.