Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty in Pannun Murder-for-Hire Plot

New Delhi, February 14, 2026: In a significant legal breakthrough that has sent ripples through international diplomatic circles, Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, pleaded guilty on Friday, February 13, 2026, in a Manhattan federal court for his role in a foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The plea marks a dramatic reversal for Gupta, who had consistently maintained his innocence since his extradition from the Czech Republic in mid-2024.

The Courtroom Admission

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, Gupta admitted to three federal charges:

• Murder-for-hire
• Conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering

During the hearing, Gupta acknowledged his involvement, stating, “I agreed with another person to have another individual murder a person in the United States.” He further confirmed paying a $15,000 advance in New York to facilitate the crime—unaware at the time that the “hitman” he was negotiating with was actually an undercover U.S. federal agent.

Anatomy of the Assassination Plot

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the conspiracy began in May 2023. Prosecutors allege that Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee, identified as Vikash Yadav (referred to in earlier indictments as CC-1).

Yadav, a former officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), allegedly tasked Gupta with orchestrating the assassination of Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and general counsel for the banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

Key Evidence against Gupta:

• The Advance Payment: Gupta arranged for the delivery of $15,000 in cash to an undercover officer in Manhattan as a down payment on a $100,000 contract.
• Electronic Communications: Intercepted messages showed Gupta providing Pannun’s home address, phone numbers, and daily routine to the purported hitman.
• The “Nijjar Connection”: The indictment revealed that following the June 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, Gupta told the undercover agent that there was “now no need to wait” to target Pannun, emphasizing that they had “so many targets.”

Diplomatic Implications and India’s Stance

The case has placed a considerable strain on U.S.-India relations. While the U.S. has been vocal about “transnational repression,” the Indian government has officially distanced itself from the plot.

New Delhi has maintained that such actions are contrary to government policy and initially described the incident as the work of a “rogue agent.” However, following an internal high-level inquiry, Indian authorities acknowledged that the official involved had “criminal links” and recommended legal action against him in early 2025. Vikash Yadav remains at large in India, and a U.S. federal warrant for his arrest is still active.

Official Statements

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton issued a stern warning following the plea:

“Nikhil Gupta thought that from outside this country, he could kill someone in it without consequence, simply for exercising their American right to free speech. He was wrong.”

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the intended target, responded to the news by calling the guilty plea “judicial confirmation” of a state-sponsored attempt to silence political dissent on American soil.

What Happens Next?

With Gupta’s admission of guilt, the focus now shifts to his formal sentencing in May. Legal experts suggest that his cooperation—or lack thereof—could play a role in the final duration of his prison term. Meanwhile, the international community remains watchful of how this development will influence the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between Washington and New Delhi regarding intelligence operations and national sovereignty.