NEW YORK — In a major development for a case that has strained ties between Washington and New Delhi, Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty on Friday, February 13, 2026, to plotting the assassination of pro-Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta, appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, admitted to three counts: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.+1
Under oath, Gupta confessed: “I agreed with another person to have another individual to murder a person in the United States.”
1. The Mechanics of the Plot
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Gupta was recruited in May 2023 by an Indian government employee, identified as Vikash Yadav (designated “CC-1” in earlier indictments).
- The Recruitment: Yadav, a former Senior Field Officer in India’s cabinet secretariat (housing RAW), allegedly directed Gupta to arrange a hit on Pannun, a vocal critic of the Indian government based in Queens, New York.
- The Sting: Gupta contacted an associate he believed to be a criminal contact, who was actually a DEA confidential source. This source introduced Gupta to an undercover officer posing as a hitman.+1
- The Payment: Gupta facilitated an advance payment of $15,000 in cash, delivered in Manhattan in June 2023. The total agreed price for the assassination was $100,000.+1
- The “Nijjar” Connection: Prosecutors noted that after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, Gupta reportedly told the undercover agent that Nijjar was “also a target” and that Pannun’s murder was now a “priority.”
2. Potential Sentencing & Legal Timeline
While Gupta faces a heavy statutory maximum, federal guidelines often result in lower actual sentences.
| Charge | Statutory Maximum | Guidelines Estimate |
| Murder-for-Hire | 10 Years | — |
| Conspiracy (Murder-for-Hire) | 10 Years | — |
| Conspiracy (Money Laundering) | 20 Years | — |
| Total Exposure | 40 Years | 19.5 to 24.5 Years |
Sentencing Date: U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero is scheduled to sentence Gupta on May 29, 2026.
3. Status of Co-Defendant Vikash Yadav
While Gupta faces justice in New York, the alleged mastermind remains out of reach for U.S. authorities.
- Current Status: Yadav was formally indicted in October 2024 and remains a subject of an FBI “Wanted” poster.
- India’s Stance: The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed in late 2024 that Yadav is no longer a government employee. India continues to maintain that such extraterritorial operations are not official policy and has set up a high-level probe to investigate “rogue” elements.+1
4. Diplomatic Implications
The guilty plea comes at a sensitive time. While relations between the U.S. and India remain robust—recently bolstered by high-level trade agreements—the “transnational repression” allegations remain a point of contention.
- Pannun’s Response: Following the plea, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun called it “judicial confirmation” of a state-sponsored plot.
- U.S. Attorney Statement: Jay Clayton emphasized that no one can kill a U.S. citizen for “exercising their American right to free speech” without consequence.