How the alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun unfolded
(This story originally appeared in on Nov 29, 2023)
US law enforcement officials have revealed striking evidence, including electronic intercepts and a photograph of cash payment allegedly made by purported drug runner and weapons trafficker Nikhil Gupta to an undercover agent he attempted to hire to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.
In an indictment unsealed by the US Attorney's office in Manhattan, authorities also revealed that Gupta was in constant communication with an Indian official (identified only as CC-1) who directed the alleged plot, ostensibly in exchange for getting Gupta off the hook in a criminal case in Gujarat.
Revealing details of the plot, the indictment said beginning in or about early May 2023, in a series of telephonic and electronic communications between the Indian official CC-1 and Gupta over encrypted applications, CC-1 asked Gupta to arrange the murder of the victim in exchange for CC-1 's assistance in securing the dismissal of a criminal case. Gupta, it said, agreed to orchestrate the assassination. In addition to their electronic communications, Gupta also met CC-1 in-person in New Delhi in furtherance of the plot, it alleged.
In a footnote, the indictment said Gupta and CC-1 largely communicated in English, and Gupta sometimes left CC-1 voice notes in Hindi. On or about May 6, 2023, at the outset of their conversation over a particular encrypted messaging application, CC-1 wrote Gupta: «This is [CC-1].… Save my name as [CC1 Alias].» Gupta, it said, saved the telephone number on his phone under an alias for CC-1. A few minutes later, CC-1 messaged Gupta that CC-1 had a «target in New York» and another target in «California.»
The telephone number used
