The News Freedom
www.thenewsfreedom.in
Chandigarh, November 29
The United States Justice Department has charged Indians including a government employee for an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The United States Department of Justice has filed murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. In an official statement, United States Justice Department said that the charges are contained in a superseding indictment unsealed today in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case is pending before US District Judge Victor Marrero. The Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30 pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.
“ The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” said the United States Justice Department.
While US Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said that the dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors in this case foiled and exposed a dangerous plot to assassinate a US citizen on US soil. The Department of Justice will be relentless in using the full reach of our authorities to pursue accountability for lethal plotting emanating from overseas.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said that when a foreign government employee allegedly committed the brazen act of recruiting an international narcotics trafficker to murder a US citizen on US soil, DEA was there to stop the plot. “I want to recognize the outstanding work of the DEA New York Field Division for their leadership in this investigation, the prosecution team at the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan for pursuing today’s indictment, and our federal and global law enforcement partners for their assistance,” DEA Administrator said.
Earlier this year, an Indian government employee working together with others, including Gupta , in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate Pannu. Gupta is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of a government employee, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with the government employee and others.
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.” He directed the assassination plot from India, alleged the official statement.
Documents submitted by the United States Justice Department alleged that In or about May 2023, a government employee recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of Pannu in the United States. Pannu is a vocal critic of the Indian government and the Indian government has banned him and his separatist organization,
It was further alleged acting on the government employee’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom Gupta believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder Pannu in New York City. The confidential source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer. The government employee subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the under cover $100,000 to murder Pannu. On or about June 9, 2023, a government employee and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the under cover as an advance payment for the murder. The government employee’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the under cover in Manhattan.
United States Justice Department alleged that in or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, an Indian government employee provided Gupta with personal information about Pannu, including home address in New York City, phone numbers and details about day-to-day conduct, which Gupta then passed to the under cover.
Gupta directed the under cover to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but Gupta also specifically instructed the under cover not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials.
United States Justice Department also alleged that on or about June 18, 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was an associate of Pannu, an outspoken critic of the Indian government. On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, Gupta told the under cover that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.” Gupta added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing Pannu. On or about June 20, 2023, the government employee sent Gupta a news article about Pannu.
The documents submitted in the court said that Gupta, 52, of India, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
In response to media queries on India – US security cooperation, Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that we have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others.
“We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue,” he said.
“In this context, it is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. Government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee,” he further said.