Indian National Guilty in Gurpatwant Pannun Murder Plot in US Court

February 14, 2026

In a significant development in a high‑profile case, Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Manhattan to charges related to a murder‑for‑hire plot targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. Gupta entered his guilty plea on Friday before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, admitting to murder‑for‑hire, conspiracy to commit murder‑for‑hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Gupta’s decision marked a sharp reversal from his earlier plea of not guilty after being extradited from the Czech Republic in June 2024, where he had been arrested in connection with the alleged assassination plot.

Details of the Plot and Charges

According to US Department of Justice filings, Gupta conspired in 2023 to arrange the killing of Pannun, a US resident and lawyer who advocates for a separate Sikh homeland, widely known as Khalistan. US prosecutors say Gupta coordinated with others, including co‑defendant Vikash Yadav, believed to be an Indian government employee, to find an assassin and agreed to pay $100,000 for the hit.

Gupta allegedly contacted a person he thought was a criminal associate to facilitate hiring a hitman who in reality was a confidential informant with the US Drug Enforcement Administration. An initial advance of $15,000 was delivered in cash as part of their arrangement before US law enforcement disrupted the plot.

The three counts against Gupta carry a maximum combined sentence of up to 40 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines suggest a recommended range of about 20 to 24 years. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29, 2026, before US District Judge Victor Marrero.

Target of the Plot: Controversial Activist in US

Pannun, the intended target, is a prominent Sikh separatist leader and head of the organisation Sikhs for Justice, which is banned in India as an unlawful association. Indian authorities have designated him a terrorist under domestic anti‑terror laws, accusing him of financing violence and secessionist campaigns.

US prosecutors, however, underscored that the plot targeted a US citizen for assassination on American soil, an act that violates US law and sovereignty, and vowed that foreign operatives would be pursued and held accountable.

Diplomatic Sensitivity and Broader Implications

The case has drawn intense diplomatic scrutiny, given its alleged links to foreign officials and implications for transnational repression of political activists abroad. Indian officials previously established a high‑level committee to examine the matter and have consistently rejected claims of state involvement, asserting such actions contradict official policy.

Gupta’s guilty plea underscores the serious consequences of plotting violent acts against individuals in foreign jurisdictions and will likely remain a point of contention in discussions on law enforcement and international relations.