WASHINGTON: The United States has charged an Indian national with conspiring to carry out assassinations in Nepal and Pakistan, expanding a case that has already implicated him in a plot to kill a Sikh activist in New York.
The US Department of Justice has revealed that it thwarted a major assassination plot involving Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national linked to an Indian government official, targeting an individual in Nepal and Pakistan.
Gupta had previously been charged by US authorities for allegedly attempting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist based in New York.
The conspiracy was reportedly orchestrated by Vikash Yadav, an officer in India’s external intelligence agency, RAW. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and subsequently extradited to the US, while Yadav remains at large in India.
In federal court documents filed this week, US prosecutors linked Gupta and Yadav to the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist assassinated in Canada. Both Nijjar and Pannun were outspoken critics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India has denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing but conducted an internal investigation, concluding the act was carried out by rogue agents. This case has raised serious concerns over cross-border covert operations allegedly involving Indian intelligence networks.
Judicial Proceedings and diplomatic fallout
The Czech judiciary approved Gupta’s extradition after reviewing the evidence submitted by US authorities. He was flown to the United States to face trial in a case that may significantly impact diplomatic relations between Washington and New Delhi.
US officials have emphasised that this matter extends beyond criminal charges and could have substantial diplomatic and international consequences, especially if direct links between Indian government officials and the assassination plot are confirmed.
The Department of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to protecting individuals on US soil. The trial is ongoing, with further hearings scheduled in the coming months.
During his court appearance in the US, Gupta pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to court filings, prosecutors gathered evidence from hundreds of WhatsApp messages and emails exchanged between Gupta and Yadav, detailing their discussions about the planned assassinations and weapons deals.
If convicted, Nikhil Gupta could face a lengthy prison sentence under US federal law. Meanwhile, analysts are closely monitoring the case’s potential impact on US-India relations.
