In a startling revelation, United States federal prosecutors have accused an Indian intelligence official of planning and directing a chilling assassination plot on American soil. The alleged target of this plan was US based Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The shocking allegations came to light through an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan.
According to the indictment, the Indian official, identified only as CC-1, is described as an employee of an Indian government agency, bearing the title of a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities encompassing “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” He has a background in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and has received training in “battle craft” and “weapons.”
The plot began to unfold in May 2023 when CC-1 allegedly recruited a 52-year-old Indian citizen named Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, to orchestrate the alleged assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun within the United States. In an unsettling twist, CC-1 assured Gupta that his previous legal troubles in Gujarat had been “taken care of” and that he would be protected from further harassment. CC-1 even offered to facilitate a meeting between Gupta and a “DCP” (Deputy Commissioner of Police).
Gupta, residing in India, had a history of involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking, as revealed in his communications with CC-1 and others, according to the indictment.
Under CC-1’s direction, Gupta initiated contact with a person he believed to be a criminal associate. However, unbeknownst to Gupta, this individual was, in reality, a “confidential source” working in cooperation with US law enforcement. This confidential source subsequently introduced Gupta to a supposed hitman, who, in a startling twist, turned out to be an undercover US law enforcement officer.
The indictment further alleges that CC-1 agreed to pay the undercover officer a substantial sum of USD 100,000 to carry out the assassination of Pannun.“On or about June 2, 2023”, the Indian official messaged Gupta, asking for “any update” on the murder plot, stating “it’s important and less time.” Gupta responded that he expected to have an update the following day. The next day, on or about June 3, 2023, Gupta spoke with the confidential source by audio call, and urged him to have his associates carry out the murder soon, stating: “finish him brother, finish him, don’t take too much time … push these guys, push these guys…finish…the job,” it said.
Shedding more information, the indictment further added, “In or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, CC-1 provided GUPTA with personal information about the Victim, including the Victim’s home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim’s day-to-day conduct, which GUPTA then passed to the UC. CC-1 directed GUPTA to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which GUPTA accomplished by forwarding to CC-1, among other things, surveillance photographs of the Victim. GUPTA directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but GUPTA also specifically instructed the UC 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.””
Gupta’s rationale behind this caution stemmed from concerns that Pannun’s assassination could trigger protests and geopolitical complications, particularly during scheduled engagements between the two nations.
Further, the indictment also mentions the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada, on June 18. CC-1 sent Gupta a video of Nijjar’s lifeless body, to which Gupta expressed regret for not personally carrying out the killing. Gupta sought permission to be more directly involved, but CC-1 emphasized the importance of maintaining secrecy.
Following Nijjar’s murder, Gupta urged the undercover officer to proceed with Pannun’s assassination without delay, claiming they had received the green light to act swiftly. Gupta also instructed the source to expect Pannun to exercise greater caution in the wake of Nijjar’s killing.
The indictment reveals a series of other developments, including the provision of Pannun’s personal information by CC-1, regular updates on the progress of the plot, and surveillance photographs of Pannun.
