New York [US], February 14 (HBTV): Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of orchestrating a failed assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, pleaded guilty on Friday (local time) and was sentenced to up to 24 years in prison.
The FBI in New York stated that the case highlights the agency’s ongoing commitment to protecting the homeland from threats posed by foreign nationals targeting Americans exercising their constitutionally protected rights.
In a post on X, the FBI said, ‘Following an investigation by FBI New York, and US Attorney SDNY, Nikhil Gupta pled guilty to plotting to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.’
A statement by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said, ‘Nikhil Gupta, also known as “Nick,” an Indian national, pled guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder a U.S. citizen in New York City. Gupta pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29, 2026.’
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky said, ‘Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for-hire plot against a U.S. citizen, a murder that was prevented thanks to the actions of U.S. law enforcement. The U.S. citizen became a target of transnational repression solely for exercising their freedom of speech. The message from the FBI should be clear — no matter where you are located, if you try to harm our citizens, we will not stop until you are brought to justice.’
Earlier, on October 17, 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the individual named in the US Justice Department’s indictment in the foiled assassination plot was no longer an employee of the Government of India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press conference, ‘The US State Department informed us that the individual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India. I confirm that he is no longer an employee of the Government of India.’
The US Justice Department had claimed that an Indian government employee, identified as CC-1 and not named in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination of Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors.
According to earlier allegations, Gupta was an associate of an employee of the Indian government, and together with others, they allegedly plotted the assassination of Pannun in New York City.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds American and Canadian citizenship, is designated as a terrorist by India.
(ANI)