Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty in US to murder-for-hire plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Nikhil Gupta said he paid someone in New York $15,000 to commit the crime, according to a transcript of his plea hearingAgenciesIndian national Nikhil Gupta on Friday pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to charges stemming from a failed murder-for-hire plot targeting Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder Pannun, who holds dual American and Canadian citizenship. According to statements made during the plea hearing, Gupta admitted his role in the plot. Prosecutors said Yadav subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by Gupta, to pay the undercover officer USD 100,000 to murder the victim. India’s government has dissociated itself from any plot against Pannun, saying it was against government policy.

Source: The Telegraph February 14, 2026 05:01 UTC