US Law Enforcement Uncovers Foiled Plot to Assassinate Khalistani Separatist in New York
US law enforcement officials have uncovered a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, with evidence of electronic intercepts and cash payment. The plot involved a drug runner and weapons trafficker, who communicated with an Indian official, CC-1, to carry out the murder-for-hire in exchange for Gupta's assistance in a criminal case. The plot was eventually foiled when Gupta was introduced to an undercover agent. The indictment reveals details of the plot and the victim, who is a New York-based attorney and political activist of Indian origin. Gupta has been arrested in the Czech Republic and faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy. The revelation has caused concern for both countries and highlights the importance of ongoing security cooperation.
In a shocking turn of events, US law enforcement officials have uncovered evidence of a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. The evidence includes electronic intercepts and a photograph of a cash payment allegedly made by Nikhil Gupta, a purported drug runner and weapons trafficker, to an undercover agent hired for the assassination. The indictment also reveals that Gupta was in communication with an Indian official identified as CC-1, who directed the plot in exchange for Gupta's assistance in a criminal case in Gujarat.
Summary:
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 29, 2023
The U.S. has framed charges in an alleged Indian assassination plot to kill designated terrorist & U.S citizen Gurpatwant Pannun, who recently publicly threatened to blow up Air India flights & has published bounties to kill Indian diplomats in U.S., Canada & UK.
🇮🇳🇺🇸
According to the unsealed indictment, Gupta and CC-1 communicated through encrypted applications and met in person in New Delhi in furtherance of the plot. The two largely communicated in English, with Gupta occasionally leaving voice notes in Hindi. CC-1, who was a government agency employee in India, allegedly asked Gupta to arrange the murder of Pannun in exchange for getting Gupta off the hook in his criminal case. The indictment provides a timeline of the plot, showing how the communication progressed. CC-1 initially messaged Gupta about having a target in New York and another target in California.
CC-1 later assured Gupta that his criminal case had been taken care of and that nobody from the Gujarat police was calling. CC-1 even offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a Deputy Commissioner of Police. After CC-1's assurances, Gupta actively pursued the assassination plot. He reached out to a confidential source, whom he believed to be a criminal associate, to find someone willing to carry out the murder-for-hire. Gupta and the confidential source engaged in a series of communications, discussing the logistics and price of the hit.
Gupta even suggested using legal advice as a ruse to lure the victim to a place where he could be easily executed. Gupta sent screenshots of his conversations with the confidential source to CC-1, who responded by offering a payment of $150,000 for the murder, with the possibility of a higher offer depending on the quality of the work. CC-1 emphasized that the payment would be made within 24 hours after the job was done. CC-1 provided Gupta with the victim's personal information, including the victim's home address in New York City, phone numbers, and details about the victim's daily routine.
The plot was eventually foiled when Gupta was introduced to an undercover agent posing as a hitman. A deal of $100,000 was brokered, and Gupta provided the undercover agent with the victim's personal information. Gupta instructed the hitman to commit the murder as soon as possible but specifically advised against doing it around the time of anticipated engagements between high-level US and Indian government officials. The identity of CC-1 and the victim has not been officially disclosed, but the indictment describes the victim as a New York-based attorney and political activist of Indian origin who has called for the secession of Punjab from India. The Indian government has banned the victim and his separatist organization from the country.
The Financial Times had previously reported on the alleged conspiracy to assassinate this lawyer and Khalistan supporter on American soil. The Indian national involved in the plot, Nikhil Gupta, has been arrested and detained in the Czech Republic. He faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, with each count carrying a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The Indian government has initiated an inquiry into the matter and is examining the inputs shared by the US regarding the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others. This revelation has caused concern for both countries and highlights the importance of their ongoing security cooperation.
