NEW YORK: In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty to all charges against him in a Manhattan federal court for conspiring to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader based in New York.
According to US prosecutors, Gupta was accused of plotting to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the leader of the New York-based organization Sikhs for Justice. Prosecutors alleged that the instructions to carry out the killing were given by a senior Indian government official.
Court documents revealed that Gupta was initially charged with two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy involving a contract killer. At the time the charges were first leveled, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had vehemently rejected the allegations, branding them as baseless.
However, in a stunning reversal, Gupta appeared before the federal court and confessed to all charges against him. The charges included conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to hire a hitman, and money laundering. Prosecutors estimate that Gupta, an Indian citizen, could face up to 40 years in prison under federal law for his confession to these serious crimes.
Gupta was extradited to the United States in 2024 to face trial, after being arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023. The case is linked to a broader pattern of alleged attacks and threats against the Sikh community globally, an issue on which the United States has previously expressed deep concern.
