In a significant development in the high-profile assassination plot case, Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court. Gupta admitted to his involvement in a conspiracy to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. The admission was made before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, marking a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings that have drawn international attention. Pannun, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, was the intended target of the failed plot in New York City.
Judicial Proceedings and Extradition Background
Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn has recommended that District Judge Marrero accept Gupta's guilty plea. The court has scheduled the next hearing for 15 March. Nikhil Gupta was extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic in June 2024, following his arrest at the request of the US government. While Gupta had initially maintained a plea of not guilty during his first appearance before Magistrate Judge James Cott, his recent admission of guilt covers multiple federal charges related to the murder-for-hire scheme.
Details of Charges and Potential Sentencing
S. Attorney J. Clayton for the Southern District of New York, Gupta pleaded guilty to three major counts. These include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Under federal law, the murder-for-hire charges each carry a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The money laundering conspiracy charge is more severe, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years. The final sentencing will be determined by the district judge based on federal guidelines and the specifics of the case.
The Conspiracy and Role of Co-Defendant
The indictment details that Nikhil Gupta worked with others, including co-defendant Vikash Yadav, in India and elsewhere to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun, while according to court documents, at the behest of Yadav, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate. However, this individual was actually a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This source facilitated an introduction to a purported hitman, who was in fact an undercover law enforcement officer, leading to the eventual exposure of the plot.
Financial Transactions and Undercover Operation
The investigation revealed that Vikash Yadav and Nikhil Gupta agreed to pay USD 100,000 to the undercover officer to carry out the assassination. Around 9 June, 2023, the duo arranged for an associate to deliver an advance payment of USD 15,000 in cash to the undercover officer in Manhattan. This transaction was monitored by federal agents and served as critical evidence in the case. The plot was reportedly timed around high-level diplomatic engagements, but the intervention of US authorities prevented any physical harm to the intended target.