Gupta's Guilty Plea
Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, has formally admitted his culpability in a Manhattan federal court to a trifecta of serious charges. These
include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. This plea marks a significant development in the case where Gupta was accused of playing a central role in a foiled plan to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an individual holding dual US-Canadian citizenship and a prominent figure in the Khalistani separatist movement who resides in New York. The indictment specifically laid out that Gupta, also known by the alias 'Nick,' participated in efforts aimed at eliminating a US citizen within New York City. His admission of guilt addresses all counts presented in the Second Superseding Indictment, signaling a critical juncture in the legal proceedings against him.
Alleged Nexus to Indian Officials
The alleged conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun reportedly involved coordination with an individual identified as a senior field officer from an Indian government agency, referred to in court documents as 'CC-1'. This official, whose responsibilities allegedly included intelligence gathering, is accused of recruiting Gupta and collaborating with others to execute the assassination plot. Further details emerged, implicating Vikash Yadav, another co-accused and an employee of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which oversees the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the nation's external intelligence agency. US prosecutors contend that Gupta was tasked by these alleged Indian government contacts to orchestrate Pannun's killing on American territory, receiving personal details of the target, including his New York City address, phone numbers, and daily routines.
Undercover Operation Unravels Plot
To carry out the alleged assassination, Nikhil Gupta sought to engage a hitman, reportedly reaching out to an individual he believed to be a criminal contact. Unbeknownst to Gupta, this contact was actually a confidential informant working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This informant subsequently facilitated Gupta's connection with an undercover DEA officer who was posing as a hired assassin. Gupta and this undercover officer allegedly agreed on a sum of $100,000 to carry out the assassination, with an initial cash advance of $15,000 being provided. In the wake of the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, Gupta reportedly informed the undercover officer that there was an increased urgency to proceed with the assassination of Pannun, indicating a heightened sense of determination within the plot.
Extradition and Legal Ramifications
Nikhil Gupta was apprehended in June 2023 by Czech authorities, acting upon a request from the United States government, and subsequently extradited to the US. Since his arrival, he has been held in Brooklyn. Initially, Gupta had pleaded not guilty to all charges levied against him. Appearing before Federal Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan, his plea of guilty to the three charges – murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering – represents a significant turning point. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, by US District Judge Victor Marrero, and faces a potential maximum prison sentence of 40 years, though the final determination of his punishment will depend on various factors considered by the judge.
