Washington: Nikhil GuptaOne Indian Citizen accused of being involved in murder for hire conspiracy The man who prosecuted a Sikh extremist in New York will now face justice in a US court. Attorney General Merrick Garland has said that the US will not tolerate attempts to “silence” or “harm” its citizens. Gupta, 53, also known as Nick, was arrested and detained in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, on charges of involvement in a murder conspiracy at the request of the US government. Khalistani separatists Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in New York.He was extradited to the US on June 14.
Gupta was produced in a federal court in New York on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Chabroy.
He was arraigned on the charges in a superseding indictment Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Kott. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
“This extradition makes clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm.” American citizenGarland said Monday.
“Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court, as he was involved in an alleged conspiracy that was directed by an employee.” Indian GovernmentHe said, “An American citizen who supported the Sikh separatist movement in India was targeted and killed.”
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release that Gupta has been charged with murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said this assassination plot, allegedly hatched by an Indian government employee, to kill an American citizen in New York City was a blatant attempt to silence a political activist from exercising one of his quintessential American rights – freedom of expression.
“The defendant’s extradition is an important step towards justice,” he said.
FBI Director Christopher Ray said the agency will not tolerate attempts by foreign nationals or any other individuals to suppress constitutionally protected freedoms in the United States.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners at home and abroad to defend our citizens and these sacred rights,” he said.
India has publicly stated that a high-level investigation is being conducted into the evidence shared by the US regarding an alleged plot to assassinate Pannu on American soil.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram described Gupta as an international drug trafficker. She said, “Gupta is accused of plotting a dangerous conspiracy to murder an American citizen on American soil.”
According to court documents, last year an Indian government employee (CC-1) allegedly conspired with Gupta and others in India and elsewhere to murder Shaun Rae, an Indian-American lawyer and political activist, on US soil.
The media release said that Gupta is an Indian national, residing in India, an associate of CC-1, and has mentioned his involvement in international drug and arms trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others.
CC-1 is an employee of an Indian government agency who described himself as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence” and made reference to previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “war craft” and “weapons.” It said CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.
Federal prosecutors alleged that CC-1 recruited Gupta to plan the murder in the US in May 2023.
Federal prosecutors said Pannu is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a US organisation that advocates the secession of Punjab.
They alleged that at CC-1’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (CS) to assist in contracting an assassin to murder the victim in New York City.
He said, “CS introduced Gupta to an alleged assassin, who was actually a DEA undercover officer (UC). CC-1 subsequently agreed to pay UC US$100,000 for the murder of the victim in a deal brokered by Gupta. On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver US$15,000 in cash to UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1’s associate then delivered the US$15,000 to UC in Manhattan.”
He said that in June 2023, in furtherance of the murder conspiracy, CC-1 provided Gupta with personal information about the victim, including the victim’s home address, phone numbers associated with the victim, and details about the victim’s day-to-day conduct, which Gupta passed on to UC.
CC-1 directed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the murder plot, which Gupta accomplished by, among other things, sending surveillance photographs of the victim to CC-1.
“While Gupta directed UC to carry out the murder as quickly as possible, Gupta also specifically instructed UC not to carry out the murder at a time when high-level meetings between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials were expected to take place in the coming weeks,” prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, after the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada on June 18, 2023, Gupta allegedly told UC that he “was a target too” and that “we have a lot of targets”.
Prosecutors alleged that around June 20, 2023, CC-1 sent Gupta a news article about the victim and messaged him that “this is a priority now.”
Gupta was produced in a federal court in New York on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Chabroy.
He was arraigned on the charges in a superseding indictment Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Kott. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
“This extradition makes clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm.” American citizenGarland said Monday.
“Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court, as he was involved in an alleged conspiracy that was directed by an employee.” Indian GovernmentHe said, “An American citizen who supported the Sikh separatist movement in India was targeted and killed.”
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a press release that Gupta has been charged with murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said this assassination plot, allegedly hatched by an Indian government employee, to kill an American citizen in New York City was a blatant attempt to silence a political activist from exercising one of his quintessential American rights – freedom of expression.
“The defendant’s extradition is an important step towards justice,” he said.
FBI Director Christopher Ray said the agency will not tolerate attempts by foreign nationals or any other individuals to suppress constitutionally protected freedoms in the United States.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners at home and abroad to defend our citizens and these sacred rights,” he said.
India has publicly stated that a high-level investigation is being conducted into the evidence shared by the US regarding an alleged plot to assassinate Pannu on American soil.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram described Gupta as an international drug trafficker. She said, “Gupta is accused of plotting a dangerous conspiracy to murder an American citizen on American soil.”
According to court documents, last year an Indian government employee (CC-1) allegedly conspired with Gupta and others in India and elsewhere to murder Shaun Rae, an Indian-American lawyer and political activist, on US soil.
The media release said that Gupta is an Indian national, residing in India, an associate of CC-1, and has mentioned his involvement in international drug and arms trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others.
CC-1 is an employee of an Indian government agency who described himself as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence” and made reference to previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “war craft” and “weapons.” It said CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.
Federal prosecutors alleged that CC-1 recruited Gupta to plan the murder in the US in May 2023.
Federal prosecutors said Pannu is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a US organisation that advocates the secession of Punjab.
They alleged that at CC-1’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (CS) to assist in contracting an assassin to murder the victim in New York City.
He said, “CS introduced Gupta to an alleged assassin, who was actually a DEA undercover officer (UC). CC-1 subsequently agreed to pay UC US$100,000 for the murder of the victim in a deal brokered by Gupta. On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver US$15,000 in cash to UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1’s associate then delivered the US$15,000 to UC in Manhattan.”
He said that in June 2023, in furtherance of the murder conspiracy, CC-1 provided Gupta with personal information about the victim, including the victim’s home address, phone numbers associated with the victim, and details about the victim’s day-to-day conduct, which Gupta passed on to UC.
CC-1 directed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the murder plot, which Gupta accomplished by, among other things, sending surveillance photographs of the victim to CC-1.
“While Gupta directed UC to carry out the murder as quickly as possible, Gupta also specifically instructed UC not to carry out the murder at a time when high-level meetings between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials were expected to take place in the coming weeks,” prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, after the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada on June 18, 2023, Gupta allegedly told UC that he “was a target too” and that “we have a lot of targets”.
Prosecutors alleged that around June 20, 2023, CC-1 sent Gupta a news article about the victim and messaged him that “this is a priority now.”
