New York/New Delhi: Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to charges linked to a disrupted assassination plot targeting US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York, Gupta admitted guilt to all three counts listed in a second superseding indictment. The charges include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The plea was entered before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 29, 2026, before US District Judge Victor Marrero. Gupta faces a maximum sentence of up to 24 years in prison.
In a statement, FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky said Gupta played a central role in what authorities described as a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a US citizen. He added that the alleged plot was thwarted due to the intervention of US law enforcement agencies and reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to protecting individuals in the country from foreign threats.
The United States Department of Justice had earlier alleged that an unidentified Indian government employee, referred to in court documents as “CC-1,” recruited Gupta to arrange the killing. Prosecutors maintain that the plan was disrupted before it could be executed.
In October 2024, India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the individual mentioned in the US indictment was no longer employed by the Government of India.
Pannun, who holds both US and Canadian citizenship, has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government and is known for advocating Khalistani separatism.
US officials have said the case underscores their resolve to pursue legal action against foreign nationals accused of attempting to harm individuals on American soil, particularly in cases involving alleged political motivations.
