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An Indian man accused of planning an unsuccessful government-backed attack to assassinate a Sikh separatist in New York City pleaded guilty on Friday to three criminal charges, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan.
Nikhil Gupta, 54, admitted to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. These charges together could result in a maximum sentence of 40 years behind bars. Gupta appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in federal court in Manhattan to enter his plea.
Gupta has been held in Brooklyn since June 2024, after being extradited from the Czech Republic, where he was detained a year earlier. Following his extradition, Gupta initially pleaded not guilty. His legal representatives did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Prosecutors allege that Gupta conspired with an official from the Indian government to eliminate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. resident and dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, who advocates for an independent Sikh state in northern India.
The Indian government has publicly distanced itself from any involvement in plots targeting Pannun, affirming that such actions go against official policy.
The uncovering of alleged assassination schemes targeting Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada has strained diplomatic relations with India, which continues to deny any involvement in such plots.
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