Nikhil Gupta: In a stunning courtroom reversal, Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty of plotting the assassination attempt on US-based separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The 54-year-old Indian national admitted to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit money laundering and murder-for-hire before US magistrate judge Sarah Netburn.
Nikhil Gupta-The U-turn
Interestingly, Gupta has denied any wrongdoing ever since he was extradited to the United States in June 2024 from the Czech Republic.
According to US legal analysts, the decision of Gupta to plead guilty was possibly a result of overwhelming evidence presented by the US federal prosecutors.
DON'T MISS
Initially scheduled for March 30, the trial was likely to feature a series of electronic communications and conversations that directly linked Gupta to the assassination attempt. It was revealed by the recordings that a fee of $100,000 was negotiated by Gupta with a hitman who was an undercover US agent.
The Indian RAW Angle
It is alleged by the United States authorities that former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikash Yadav recruited Nikhil Gupta for the assassination of Pannun.
The Indian government has vehemently denied any hand in the assassination case, saying it was merely a rogue operation.
The United States government has recommended a jail sentence of 21 to 24 years.
Shaky India Canada Ties?
Former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau had alleged that the Indian government played a role in the assassination attempt on Pannun, a general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which is a pro-Khalistani organization.
In the last few months, Pannun had released many videos calling for the boycott of Air India. He has also offered big rewards for anti-India activities. These actions by him have prompted India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file terror-associated charges against Pannun.
Would the guilt admission by Nikhil Gupta now hurt the already strained ties between India and Canada?