National Times Bureau :- Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US federal court to charges linked to an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City.
According to the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, the 54-year-old admitted guilt on three counts, murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges together carry a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Nikhil Gupta entered his plea before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court on Friday. His legal team did not immediately issue a statement following the court proceedings.
Gupta has been in custody in Brooklyn since June 2024 after being extradited from the Czech Republic, where he was arrested in 2023. At the time of his extradition, he had pleaded not guilty.
US prosecutors have alleged that Gupta conspired with an Indian government official in a plan to assassinate Pannun, who is a US resident and holds dual US-Canadian citizenship.
The Government of India has earlier denied any involvement in the alleged plot, stating that such actions are not in line with official policy.
The case has added strain to diplomatic ties, as allegations of assassination plots against Sikh separatists in the United States and Canada have drawn international attention. India has consistently rejected claims of state involvement in such activities.
