Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty in US court for assassination plot

Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, has pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in a U.S. federal court, including murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. This plea is in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent U.S.-based Sikh separatist leader and advocate for a sovereign Sikh state. The guilty plea represents a significant turnaround, as Gupta had previously pleaded not guilty after his extradition to the U.S. from the Czech Republic in June 2024. Gupta, who is 54 years old, faces a maximum combined sentence of 40 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. Prosecutors allege that Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee, identified as Vikash Yadav, to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun on U.S. soil. The plot was foiled when the individual Gupta believed to be a hitman turned out to be an undercover U.S. federal agent. Gupta allegedly negotiated a $100,000 fee for the assassination and paid an advance of $15,000. The U.S. indictment also suggested a link between this plot and the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Specifically, it is alleged that after Nijjar's murder, Gupta indicated that Pannun was also a target. India has consistently dissociated itself from any involvement in the plot, stating that such actions are contrary to government policy and calling the allegations "unwarranted and unsubstantiated." In October 2025, India's Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the official implicated in the U.S. indictment, Vikash Yadav, was no longer employed by the Indian government, though India has not indicated willingness to extradite him. This case has strained diplomatic relations between the United States and India, with U.S. officials emphasizing that such attempts to silence or harm American citizens will not be tolerated. The case began when U.S. authorities announced charges in November 2023, leading to Gupta's arrest in the Czech Republic in June 2023. His extradition to the U.S. in June 2024 was a significant step, and he initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea. Legal analysts suggest Gupta's decision to plead guilty stems from the overwhelming evidence presented by federal prosecutors, including wiretapped conversations and electronic communications. The trial was initially set for March 30, 2026, but the plea avoids a high-profile trial. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and a lawyer who leads Sikhs for Justice, an organization advocating for an independent Khalistan. He has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government and is a vocal critic of Indian policies. The plea agreement will move the case into the sentencing phase, with the U.S. government recommending a sentence of 21 to 24 years.

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