Summary
An Indian national, identified as 54-year-old Nikhil Gupta, pleaded guilty on Friday in Manhattan federal court to charges connected to an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist in New York City. Prosecutors said Gupta conspired with an Indian government official to target Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. resident and dual U.S.-Canadian citizen who advocates for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India. Gupta admitted guilt to three counts: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Plea and potential penalty
Gupta entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The three counts carry a combined maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan. Court filings and the prosecutor's spokesperson noted that lawyers for Gupta were not immediately available to comment on the plea.
Custody and extradition background
The defendant has been held in a Brooklyn jail since his extradition to the United States in June 2024 from the Czech Republic, where he had been arrested a year earlier. After his extradition, Gupta initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea to guilty at the recent hearing.
Allegations and diplomatic fallout
U.S. prosecutors accused Gupta of working with an Indian government official to carry out a plan to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is described in the charges as a U.S. resident and a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen advocating a sovereign Sikh state in northern India. India's government has publicly dissociated itself from any plot against Pannun, stating the alleged scheme would have been contrary to government policy.
The revelation of alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists on both U.S. and Canadian soil has placed pressure on diplomatic ties with India. Indian authorities have denied involvement in such plots as those discoveries have emerged.
Key points
- Nikhil Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- The combined statutory maximum penalty for the three convictions is 40 years in prison; Gupta entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
- The case has tested diplomatic relations, with alleged plots against Sikh separatists in the United States and Canada prompting tensions with India, which denies involvement.
Risks and uncertainties
- Diplomatic strain - The discoveries of alleged assassination plots have tested ties between India and governments in the United States and Canada, creating uncertainty in bilateral relations.
- Legal outcome variability - While Gupta has pleaded guilty, the article notes the statutory maximum; actual sentence and related legal developments remain uncertain.
- Information gaps - The public record, as presented, leaves open questions about the roles of other individuals and institutions implicated by prosecutors, which may affect future legal and diplomatic steps.
Contextual note
Gupta's guilty pleas follow his detention in Brooklyn after he was extradited from the Czech Republic in June 2024, where he had been arrested the previous year. He had initially entered not guilty pleas upon extradition before changing his plea to guilty during the recent hearing.
Legal representation
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson, defense attorneys for Gupta were not immediately available to comment on Friday's plea. Gupta's admission of guilt came at a hearing before a federal magistrate in Manhattan.
International implications
Prosecutors say the alleged plot involved coordination with an Indian government official to target Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent advocate for a separate Sikh state. The Indian government has disavowed any association with such an operation, saying it would be inconsistent with official policy. Officials in the United States and Canada have faced diplomatic pressure as reports of alleged plots involving Sikh separatists have come to light.