Federal prosecutors have charged an individual identified as an Indian intelligence officer with attempting to orchestrate an assassination on U.S. soil, marking a significant escalation in the response from the United States and Canada to perceived illegal actions by India.
An indictment unsealed in Manhattan revealed that Vikash Yadav allegedly directed the assassination plot from India, targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based critic of the Indian government and a Sikh lawyer advocating for the secession of the Punjab region.
Pannun described the assassination plot as a “blatant case of India’s transnational terrorism,” which he claims poses a challenge to American sovereignty and threatens freedom of speech and democracy.
The indictment indicated that Yadav referred to himself as a “senior field officer” within the Indian government’s foreign intelligence service, known as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Authorities stated that Yadav recruited an associate to locate a U.S.-based criminal to facilitate the murder of the Sikh activist.
Last year, U.S. prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, who was allegedly acting under Yadav's instructions, with involvement in the plot. The recent indictment now charges Yadav with orchestrating the assassination attempt.
This indictment follows the Canadian government's expulsion of India’s top diplomat and five others, linked to a criminal network, in response to the killing of prominent Sikh cleric Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year.
The Canadian government has accused the Indian government of being involved in Nijjar's killing, similar to U.S. claims regarding the plot against Pannun. U.S. authorities have reportedly shared intelligence with Canada as both nations investigate the incidents.
Following Nijjar’s death, Yadav allegedly communicated with Gupta about Pannun, labeling him a “priority now.” However, the individual Gupta attempted to recruit for the assassination alerted U.S. law enforcement, leading to a sting operation and the initial indictment.
Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded not guilty during a court appearance this summer. U.S. authorities believe Yadav remains in India. Both individuals face charges of murder for hire and conspiracy to launder money.
The indictment presents a disturbing image of a government allegedly seeking to eliminate critics residing in North America, with Gupta suggesting that the targets were merely the beginning of a broader campaign against Sikh separatists abroad.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that he had urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cooperate in the investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter. Following the lack of cooperation, Canada expelled several Indian officials, prompting a reciprocal expulsion of Canadian diplomats by India.