Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of participating in a murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader in the United States, pleaded guilty Friday (13) to multiple federal charges.
Gupta, 54, admitted guilt to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a plan to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. Pannun holds dual US and Canadian citizenship.
Gupta entered his plea before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29 by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
In a statement, Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Gupta pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which also carries a maximum of 10 years; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
According to allegations detailed in the indictment and other court filings, Gupta worked with individuals in India and elsewhere, including co-defendant Vikash Yadav, to orchestrate Pannun’s assassination on American soil.
Prosecutors said that at Yadav’s direction, Gupta contacted a person he believed to be a criminal associate to help arrange the killing. That individual was, in fact, a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court documents state that Yadav later agreed, in negotiations brokered by Gupta, to pay $100,000 to an undercover law enforcement officer to carry out the murder in New York City.
On or about June 9, 2023, Yadav and Gupta allegedly arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the undercover officer as an advance payment for the planned killing.
Gupta now faces sentencing in federal court in Manhattan later this year.
