First of all, let us know the latest update in Nikhil Gupta case. There was a big turn in the American court on Friday. Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty in the case of conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The hearing took place on Friday in Manhattan federal court. During this, Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty to all the three charges against him: taking betel nut for murder, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit money laundering. This confession means that Nikhil Gupta was planning to murder Pannu, a terrorist living in America.
What did Nikhil say in the American court?
Nikhil Gupta, accused of hatching a failed conspiracy to murder Khalistani Sikh terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City, pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in a federal court in Manhattan. He said that yes I have committed these crimes. Nikhil Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty Friday to murder for hire, conspiracy to commit murder for hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan said.
How many years can Nikhil Gupta be sentenced to?
Now the question is, what will happen after confessing to these crimes? If the court finds Nikhil Gupta guilty and sentences him, then how many years can he be sentenced? According to the spokesperson of the US Attorney’s Office, the total punishment for the three charges to which Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty is 40 years in prison.
Why are questions being raised on Nikhil’s confession?
Before this, Nikhil Gupta had appeared before the court and never confessed to his crime, but this time he confessed? Now the question is whether they are being forced? Has he confessed to his crime under any compulsion?
What happened in the US court on Friday?
- Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn recommended that District Judge Marrero accept the plea. Now the date of hearing has been fixed for March 15. However, the punishment will be announced on May 29.
- Nikhil Gupta was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic in June 2024 and his first appearance was in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge James Cott. During his appearance in the court, he had earlier declared himself innocent.
- Nikhil Gupta admitted in Manhattan Federal Court that he paid $15,000 to a man he considered a hitman in mid-2023 to kill Pannun, an activist who led the banned group Sikhs for Justice in New York City. He had initially denied these allegations.
- US law enforcement officials have alleged that Nikhil Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee to carry out a murder-for-hire plot.
- US Attorney Jay Clayton said, ‘Nikhil Gupta had conspired to murder an American citizen in New York City.’ He thought that he could kill someone from outside this country without any consequences, just because he was exercising his right to free speech in America. But he was wrong, and he will get justice.
- He pleaded guilty to three charges. Murder for hire, conspiracy to commit murder for hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Nikhil Gupta is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29.
Terrorist Pannu has citizenship of how many countries?
Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on the request of the US government. He was accused of being involved in conspiring to murder Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in New York. Pannu has citizenship of both America and Canada.
Had planned to kill terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, confession of Indian Nikhil Gupta
Who is Nikhil Gupta and what are the allegations?
Nikhil Gupta is an Indian citizen. The prosecution has accused Nikhil Gupta of being involved in a conspiracy to give contract to a person for the murder of Khalistani terrorist Pannu. Nikhil Gupta is accused of conspiring to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who campaigned for Khalistan, declared a terrorist by the Indian government. Gupta has been kept in a jail in Brooklyn after extradition from the Czech Republic.
Why surprised by the confession?
Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, who is facing charges of conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, was presented in the US court earlier also. Nikhil Gupta had refused in the court to be involved in the conspiracy to murder terrorist Pannu. Then I clearly said that I had nothing to do with this conspiracy. I am innocent.
What is India’s stand on Nikhil Gupta?
India has been denying this conspiracy from the beginning. The Indian Foreign Ministry says that these allegations are ‘unnecessary and without evidence’. India’s clear stand is that India has nothing to do with the conspiracy to murder terrorist Pannu. India has clearly said that it is ready to investigate such conspiracies. Such work is against government policy. After Nikhil Yadav was officially accused in October 2024, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that the US State Department told us that the person accused in the Justice Department no longer works in India. I confirm that he is no longer an employee of the Government of India. Responding to the allegations, the Indian government said that it took the inputs received from the US seriously and formed a high-level inquiry committee in November 2023 to investigate the matter.
Who is terrorist Pannu?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is a prominent Sikh separatist. He is a Khalistani terrorist. He holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada and lives in New York. He runs and is the chief of the terrorist organization ‘Sikhs for Justice’ (SFJ). Terrorist Pannu demands Khalistan. He wants to create a separate country in India named Khalistan. He runs a campaign against the Indian government on social media. He keeps provoking people in India. The Government of India has declared him a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2020. Delhi Police had registered a case against him for his threats on Republic Day in January 2026.
