Former Indian Spy Charged in U.S. Over Alleged Murder Plot of Khalistani Terrorist
Ex-RAW Officer Accused of Orchestrating Assassination Attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
The U.S. Justice Department has charged a former Indian intelligence officer, previously associated with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for allegedly orchestrating a failed assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist residing in New York City. The charges include murder-for-hire and money laundering.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting individuals exercising their rights in the U.S., stating, “The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the U.S.”
Details of the Alleged Assassination Plot
According to the indictment, the alleged plot began in May 2023 while the former officer was still employed by the Indian government. He is accused of collaborating with individuals both in India and overseas to carry out the assassination of Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and advocate for Khalistan—a proposed independent Sikh homeland.
American authorities state that the former RAW officer recruited Indian national Nikhil Gupta to execute the murder. Gupta was arrested in Prague in June 2023 after traveling from India and has since been extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment indicates that Gupta was hired to “orchestrate the assassination of the victim in the United States.”
U.S. authorities believe Gupta felt an urgent need to eliminate Pannun, particularly following the murder of another Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada. The indictment claims Gupta believed that there was “now no need to wait” for Pannun’s assassination after Nijjar’s killing.
The former officer and Gupta allegedly contracted an individual for the assassination for $100,000. However, the FBI later discovered that the hired assassin was an undercover informant. Days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the U.S. in June 2023, the informant received a $15,000 advance for the murder from the former officer and Gupta, a transaction documented in the indictment.
Indian Government Responds
The indictment includes an alleged photograph of the former officer in military attire and claims he instructed Gupta and the informant to delay the assassination until after PM Modi’s visit to prevent diplomatic repercussions. The indictment reveals messages where the officer discussed verifying Pannun’s whereabouts before proceeding with the plot.
In response to the allegations, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the individual named in the indictment is no longer affiliated with the Indian government. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The U.S. State Department informed us that the individual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India.”
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that the Indian delegation had met with an inter-agency team, indicating ongoing cooperation in the investigation.
In September 2023, a U.S. court issued a summons to the Indian government over Pannun’s civil suit, which accused Indian officials of conspiring to murder him. The Indian government labeled the summons as “completely unwarranted” and asserted that a high-level committee was engaged in addressing the issue.
The charges against the former Indian intelligence officer highlight the complex and contentious nature of international relations, particularly concerning issues related to terrorism and sovereignty. As investigations continue, the situation underscores the importance of cooperation between nations in addressing such serious allegations.
