India-based Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court in connection with the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani militant and banned Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the development, marking a key turning point in the high-profile case.
On Thursday, Gupta appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn and admitted to three charges: agreeing to murder Pannun for hire, planning the assassination, and conspiring to commit money laundering. Combined, these charges carry a potential prison sentence of over 40 years, with sentencing scheduled for May 29. Gupta’s legal team has not issued a statement regarding the plea.
The U.S. had earlier revealed that the conspiracy to target Pannun on American soil was foiled. Authorities alleged that Gupta acted on instructions from an Indian government official. Czech authorities arrested Gupta, and under U.S. pressure, he was extradited to the United States to face charges.
The Indian government has strongly denied the allegations against its officials and formed a high-level committee to examine the matter. So far, India has not publicly responded to Gupta’s guilty plea or the latest developments in the case, which continue to attract international attention.