An Indian citizen accused of being involved in a conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a Sikh separatist in America, has accepted the charges against him. According to the related case, the alleged murder plot had failed. Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to related charges on Friday.
Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn recommended that District Judge Marrero accept the plea. The date of hearing has been fixed for March 15. Nikhil Gupta was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic in June 2024 and his first appearance was in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge James Cott.
During his court appearance, he had earlier declared himself innocent. Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on the request of the US government. He was accused of being involved in conspiring to murder Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in New York. Pannu has citizenship of both America and Canada.
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement that Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the allegations contained in the charge sheet, other public court documents, and statements made in court, Nikhil Gupta worked with others in India and elsewhere, including co-defendant Vikas Yadav, to plot Pannu's murder on US soil. At the behest of Vikas Yadav, Nikhil Gupta contacted a man he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was actually a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to help contract a hitman to murder Pannu in New York City.
Later, in a deal brokered by Nikhil Gupta, Vikas Yadav agreed to pay USD 100,000 to the undercover officer for the murder of the victim. Around June 9, 2023, Vikas Yadav and Nikhil Gupta arranged for an accomplice to deliver USD 15,000 cash to the undercover officer as advance payment for the murder.
