Newyork;In a development with international implications, India has initiated a “high-level” inquiry into allegations made by the United States government concerning an Indian plot against U.S.-based Khalistani activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revealed on Wednesday that the inquiry committee was established to examine claims presented in a U.S. Department of Justice indictment publicly released on the same day.
The indictment accuses an unnamed senior Indian intelligence official (referred to as CC-1) of orchestrating an assassination plot against Pannun. The document suggests that the official enlisted an individual named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman, and implies that criminal charges against Gupta were dropped by the Gujarat Police to facilitate the contract killing.
This shocking revelation also links the alleged plot against Pannun to an earlier plot to kill Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an accusation Canada has leveled against Indian government agents.
**U.S. Allegations and Responses:**
U.S. Attorney Damien Williams stated, “The defendant [Nikhil Gupta] conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs.” Williams emphasized that the U.S. would not tolerate efforts to harm its citizens and expressed readiness to investigate, thwart, and prosecute those involved.
Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 and awaits extradition procedures to the U.S. The allegations have reportedly been raised at the highest levels, including by the U.S. President, Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, and CIA chief, between June and October this year.
**Indian Response:**
India responded by establishing a high-level inquiry committee on November 18, as per the MEA. While not explicitly addressing government involvement, the MEA mentioned that the U.S. shared “inputs” on a “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others,” currently under investigation. The MEA asserted that India takes such inputs seriously as they impact national security interests.
The unnamed Indian official, described as a “Senior Field Officer” in the indictment, allegedly communicated with Gupta to arrange Pannun’s murder. The document contains detailed accounts of telephone communications, including hiring a hitman for a promised payment of up to $150,000. The indictment also links the Indian official to the Nijjar killing in Canada.
Despite India’s designation of Pannun as a terrorist in 2020, the MEA did not confirm whether extradition requests were made. The high-level enquiry committee will determine necessary follow-up actions based on its findings.
