This is an archive article published on March 24, 2025
Premium
Pannun murder plot: Further investigation pending in local extortion case against Vikash Yadav, Delhi Police inform court
The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested former R&AW officer Vikash Yadav and his associate Abdullah Khan in the extortion case in 2023 after the US called him co-conspirator in the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun murder plot.
Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav. (File Photo)
The Delhi Police informed a Delhi court on Monday that further investigation is pending in the extortion case against former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav. He has been charged by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) with “murder-for-hire” and money laundering related to an alleged plot to kill pro-Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
“Investigation is pending in which regard?” Additional Sessions Judge Sumit Dass of Patiala House Court asked the case’s investigating Officer. “We have some CDRs (call detail records),” replied the police. The case has now been listed for May 22 for arguments on point of charge.
Advertisement
Yadav, represented by advocates R K Handoo and Aditya Chaudhary, had submitted an application for exemption from personal appearance, which was granted for the third time. Previously, in November and February, Yadav had cited a “threat to life” as the reason for seeking an exemption from personal appearance.
On December 18, 2023, less than three weeks after US DoJ documents mentioned him as “CC-1” (co-conspirator) in the Pannun murder plot case, the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Yadav and his associate Abdullah Khan. This was after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against him by a Rohini resident, accusing him of extortion and kidnapping and linking him to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Yadav and Khan were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 364A (abduction), 506 (threatening), 341 (wrongful confinement), 328 (poisoning) and sections 25 and 27 (punishment for certain offences related to arms and ammunition) of the Arms Act. Yadav was granted interim bail on March 22, 2024, and regular bail on April 22 in the case.
Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav. (File Photo) 
Share
