February 13, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against Sikh separatist leader and Sikh for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, pleaded guilty to federal charges in a Manhattan court on Friday.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the development, marking a significant turn in a case that has strained diplomatic ties between Washington and New Delhi.
The 54-year-old Gupta entered guilty pleas to three criminal counts: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to federal prosecutors, these charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court.
Gupta has been in U.S. custody since June 2024, following his extradition from the Czech Republic, where he was originally arrested a year prior. While he initially maintained his innocence upon arriving in the United States, his admission today confirms the allegations that he worked with an unnamed Indian government official to target Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and prominent activist living in New York.
The case continues to cast a shadow over international relations. While the Indian government has formally distanced itself from the plot, stating that such actions are contrary to government policy, the discovery of alleged assassination attempts against Sikh activists on North American soil has led to increased scrutiny. India continues to deny any official involvement in these schemes.
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