Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US court to charges related to an alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The 54-year-old faces a maximum sentence of 40 years. The Indian government has denied any involvement in the case.
In Manhattan Federal Court in New York City, 54-year-old Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to three criminal charges: conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The plea was made during an appearance before US Magistrate Judge Sara Netburn. According to a spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan, Gupta could face a maximum sentence of 40 years upon conviction.
Gupta was extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic in June 2024, where he had been arrested and held in custody for nearly a year. After extradition, he was detained in a Brooklyn jail in New York and initially pleaded not guilty, but has now admitted to the charges.
US prosecutors allege that Gupta conspired with an Indian government official to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice organization. Pannun resides in the US and holds dual citizenship, including Canadian. The case has stirred concerns in international security and diplomatic circles.
The Indian government has stated that it has no involvement in the plot and that such activities are against official policy. No response has yet come from Gupta's lawyers. The development emerged on February 13, 2026, and was updated on February 14.