Allegations: Indian Official Linked to Foiled Plot Against Sikh Activist in NYC

US federal prosecutors have accused an Indian government representative of orchestrating a scheme to eliminate a Sikh advocate in New York City. This situation complicates the Joe Biden administration's efforts to strengthen ties with India in countering China.

The allegations surfaced in an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice, charging another Indian citizen for collaborating in the scheme. However, the indictment did not name or charge the Indian official directly.

Although the target wasn't named by federal prosecutors, the Financial Times confirmed it was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen and the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a US-based group advocating for an independent Sikh state in India known as “Khalistan”.

The indictment, filed in federal court in Manhattan, claims the Indian official—referred to as CC-1—identified as a “senior field officer” responsible for “intelligence”. The official allegedly directed the failed scheme from India.

The official purportedly enlisted Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen charged in the indictment, in May by offering to drop criminal charges against him in India.

Gupta, unaware that a criminal associate was a “confidential source” for US law enforcement, contacted them. This source introduced Gupta to an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman.

In June, Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of US authorities and charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Pannun claimed that India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was attempting to eliminate him for organizing a referendum regarding Punjab's independence, a majority Sikh province in India.

“The attack on my life in America is a clear example of India's transnational terrorism, challenging America’s sovereignty, and threatening freedom of speech and democracy,” said Pannun.

Pannun added, “This is an indictment against Narendra Modi, a known violator of human rights who resorts to violence to suppress criticism and opposing political views.”

Before the indictment, India’s Ministry of External Affairs established a committee on November 18 to investigate the matter, stating they would take further action based on the committee’s findings.

The diplomatic sensitivity of this case led top US intelligence officials to visit India in recent months to address concerns about the alleged plot with Indian officials. Bill Burns, the CIA director, visited in August, and Avril Haines, US director of national intelligence, in October.

Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, raised concerns with his counterpart after learning about the allegations. The officials highlighted that such plotting could damage the trust between the two countries.

Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, and Sullivan raised the issue with S Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, in Washington.

The FT first reported the foiled plot to assassinate Pannun last week. Biden discussed the case with Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.

Washington's concerns about potential Indian government involvement in the US-based assassination plot arose following the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb.

In June, an initial indictment alleged that Gupta and others conspired to pay an assassin to kill Pannun. This indictment was filed a week before Modi's state visit to Washington.

Claims that the White House was unaware of any possible Indian government link during Modi's visit or when the initial indictment was filed have been made by individuals familiar with the case.

The Biden administration has heavily invested in bolstering ties with India to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region. However, officials from allied countries have indicated that the alleged connection with New Delhi has complicated this strategy.

The indictment alleges that the Indian official agreed to pay $100,000 for the assassination, arranging an upfront payment of $15,000.

In June, Gupta instructed the supposed hitman to expedite the murder, stating over the phone, “Finish him brother, finish him, don’t take too much time.”

However, Gupta later advised avoiding a timeframe with scheduled high-level US-Indian meetings, aligning with Modi's visit to the US.

On June 19, after Nijjar's killing in Canada and before Modi's US arrival, Gupta informed the hitman, “now no need to wait,” adding, “we have many targets,” including Pannun.

Intercepted conversations between the Indian official and Gupta indicated another target in California. “We will hit all our targets,” Gupta allegedly responded."