In a startling international case, US federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader living in the United States.
The criminal complaint, filed in a Manhattan federal court, outlines a complex conspiracy that began in May 2023. According to the FBI, Gupta is accused of collaborating with an Indian government official, identified as CC-1, to arrange the assassination of a US citizen of Indian origin who advocates for a sovereign Sikh state, Khalistan.
The Sting Operation
The plot unravelled when Gupta contacted a individual he believed could carry out the hit. Unbeknownst to him, this contact was actually an undercover agent working for US law enforcement.
Key communications, primarily conducted via encrypted messaging apps, detailed the plan:
- The undercover agent was provided with a photograph and home address of the intended target.
- Gupta allegedly agreed to pay $100,000 for the successful assassination.
- An advance payment of $15,000 was made to the undercover agent in Manhattan.
International Arrest and Fallout
The long arm of the law reached Gupta in the Czech Republic, where he was arrested on June 30 under a bilateral extradition treaty. He now awaits proceedings that could see him sent to the United States to face justice.
This case has sent ripples through diplomatic channels, potentially straining relations between two key allies. The direct allegation of an Indian government official's involvement adds a significant layer of geopolitical complexity to the criminal proceedings.
As the investigation continues, the case stands as a stark reminder of the extensive reach of US law enforcement and its commitment to protecting individuals on its soil from foreign-sponsored threats.
