US reveals identity of key conspirator CC-1 in Pannun plot: What are the allegations against Vikas Yadav?

A federal arrest warrant has now been issued for Yadav, who is based in India although “no longer an employee of the Indian government”. Last year, the allegations against Yadav (CC-1) were made public in a 15-page indictment against Nikhil ‘Nik’ Gupta, who too was allegedly involved in the plot to kill Pannun. Gupta is currently in prison in the US.

Here is a detailed timeline of events.

The dramatis personae

The indictment unsealed last November mentions five persons.

CC-1: An Indian intelligence officer who resides in India, and directed the plot from there. He has now been identified as Vikas Yadav. He was allegedly an agent of R&AW, India’s foreign intelligence agency, and before that employed in the Central Reserve Police Force, India’s largest paramilitary force. Releasing Yadav’s pictures, the FBI said that he was born on December 11, 1984 in Pranpura, Haryana. Yadav orchestrated the plot from India.

Nick Gupta: A 52-year old Indian national, who was hired by Yadav/CC-1 to carry out the plot to kill Pannun in the US. Gupta is allegedly involved in international weapons and narcotics trafficking. He was also based in India. He was arrested by Czech authorities and extradited to the US last year.

CS: Contacted by Gupta for assistance in contracting a hitman for the job in New York City. Was actually a confidential source working with the US law enforcement.

UC: The purported hitman, introduced to Gupta by CS. He was actually an undercover US law enforcement officer.

The Victim: While the indictments do not mention Pannun’s name, they provide details which leave little doubt. The Victim is described as “an attorney and political activist”, “a US citizen residing in New York”, “a vocal critic of the Indian government …[who] leads a US-based organisation that advocates for the secession of Punjab”, and says that the Indian government has “banned the Victim and his separatist organisation.”

The chronology of events

Yadav is referred to here as CC-1, as per last year’s indictment.

1. 01

   Early May, 2023

   In a series of communications via encrypted applications, CC-1 asks Gupta to arrange the murder of the Victim in exchange for CC-1’s assistance in securing the dismissal of a criminal case against Gupta in India. Gupta agrees, and meets CC-1 in New Delhi.

2. 02

   May 06

   CC-1 messages Gupta that he had a “target in New York” and another in “California.” Gupta replies: “'We will hit all our Targets.”

3. 03

   May 12

   CC-1 notifies Gupta that his criminal case “has already been taken care of,” and that “nobody from Gujarat police is calling.”

4. 04

   May 23

   CC-1 again assures Gupta that he had “spoke[n] with the boss about your Gujarat [case],” and that it was “all clear,” and “nobody will ever bother you again.” CC-1 further offers to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a “DCP” (Deputy Commissioner of Police).

5. 05

   May 29

   Following CC-1’s assurances, Gupta presses forward with the plot. He contacts CS by phone to ask if CS knew anyone who would be “willing to carry out a murder-for-hire in the United States.” He says that the intended victim is “a lawyer who split time between New York City and another US city” and provides details about him.

   In response, CS asks Gupta for additional information about the Victim and details about payment for the murder. Gupta forwards screenshots of these texts to CC-1 to which CC-1 responds: “we are ready to pay $150000 ... the offer will go higher depending upon the quality of the work ... and if it's done as soon as possible.”

   CS requests $ 100,000 for the job.

6. 06

   June 1

   CC-1 sends Gupta the street address for the Victim’s home in New York City, which CC-1 describes as “the locality of [the Victim’s] House.”

7. 07

   June 2

   CC-1 asks for an update, stating that “[i]t’s important and [there is] less time.” Gupta asks for a day’s time to get back.

8. 08

   June 3

   Gupta speaks with CS by audio call, and urges CS to have his associates carry out the murder soon, stating: “finish him brother, finish him, don't take too much time ... push these guys, push these guys … finish the job.” Gupta then messages CC-1 saying that he “spoke with the NY group” and “told them they have to discharge [the Victim] as soon as possible.”

9. 09

   June 4

   CS sends Gupta a purported surveillance photograph of the Victim as proof that he is being monitored by CS’s associates. He says that the Victim would be killed as soon as an advance payment of $25,000 was paid.

10. 10

    June 5

    Gupta sends this photo and a screenshot of the CS’s messages to CC-1. He asks CC-1 to “check with [his] NY dealer if he can arrange the 25k [payment] there.”

11. 11

    June 6

    Gupta specifically instructs CS not to carry out the assassination during anticipated engagements between high level government officials from the United States and India later that month. He explains that there could be protests in the wake of the Victim’s death, which could lead to “political things.”

    Gupta also asks CS to put him directly in touch with his New York associates who would receive the advance and carry out the murder. In response, CS introduces Gupta through electronic messages to UC.

    Gupta sends screenshots to CC-1 of his messages with CS discussing the advance payment and introducing the UC. CC-1 replied “Ok bhaiji.”

12. 12

    June 7

    Gupta messages CC-1 that his associate did not have the funds available in New York to make the advance payment, and asked that CC-1 check with his contact.

13. 13

    June 9

    CC-1 messages Gupta that the “payment will be made today positively,” and says “let’s get it done by this weekend,” referring to the murder of the Victim.

    Two hours after CC-1’s messages, Gupta calls UC and tells him an individual will deliver the “parcel” (referring to an advance payment of $15,000) to him in New York. This individual meets UC in Manhattan where the exchange takes place in UC’s car.

14. 14

    June 11

    After receiving from Gupta additional purported surveillance photographs of the Victim, CC-I tells Gupta: “It looks promising .. but we have today only … if it doesn’t happen today it will be done after 24th,” that is, after the high-profile visit by the Indian prime minister to Washington DC from June 21 to 23.

15. 15

    June 12

    Gupta video calls UC, and turns the camera to three other men in the room with him. “We are all counting on you,” Gupta says.

    The same day, in a call with CS, Gupta states that there was a “big target” in Canada.

16. 16

    June 14

    Gupta messages CS that “we will be needing one good team in Canada also.”

17. 17

    June 18

    Masked gunmen murder Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an associate of the Victim and fellow Khalistani separatist, outside a gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada.

    CC-1 sends Gupta a video clip showing Nijjar’s bloody body slumped in his vehicle. Gupta forwards this video to both CS and UC.

    Approximately one hour later, CC-1 sends Gupta the street address of the Victim’s residence in New York City.

18. 18

    June 19

    Gupta tells UC, on audio call, that Nijjar “was also the target” and that “we have so many targets, we have so many targets.”

    He also speaks to CS, confirming that Nijjar was the target that Gupta had previously mentioned as the potential Canadian “job”. “We didn’t give to [UC] this job, so some other guy did this job ... in Canada,” he says.

    In a change from his previous plans, Gupta tells CS to expedite the murder, regardless of the Indian prime minister’s trip. “we got the go-ahead to go anytime, even today, tomorrow — as early as possible. [The UC] has to finish this job, brother,” Gupta says.

    He also warns CS that the Victim is more likely to be cautious, now that his “colleague is down.” "If he is not alone... put everyone down,” Gupta says.

19. 19

    June 20

    CC-1 sends a news article about the Victim to Gupta, and messages: “It’s [a] priority now.”

    Gupta calls CS and says: “[by] the 29th [of June] we have to finish four jobs,” i.e., the Victim and, after that, “three in Canada.”

20. 20

    June 22

    CC-1 messages Gupta that the Victim is not at home. Gupta immediately attempts to call UC. When the call goes unanswered, he messages UC that the Victim “is not at home according to our sources ... [m]ake sure of his presence before entering inside.” This is part of a pattern of increased urgency shown by Gupta and CC-1 after the Nijjar murder.

21. 21

    June 25

    UC sends Gupta a series of photographs of the vicinity of the Victim’s residence and neighbourhood, which bore GPS coordinate stamps. Gupta forwards these to CC-1.

22. 22

    June 26

    CC-1 replies: “Excellent ... [t]he coming 24 hours will be crucial,” with the Victim " definitely either [at] home or office.” Gupta relays this information to UC, directing him to “keep eyes at his house, his office and the cafe he used to visit.”

23. 23

    June 29

    Gupta messages UC that “[w]e have the Intel that the [Victim] ... has arrived back to his home” and “[t]oday he should come out definitely.” Gupta instructs the UC to carry out the murder, stating: “[t]ry to get this done if you have the visuals and if you are sure.”

24. 24

    June 30

    Gupta travels from India to the Czech Republic, for reasons still unclear. Upon his arrival, Gupta is arrested by Czech law enforcement authorities at the request of the United States, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries.

25. 25

    September 18

    Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleges Indian involvement in the killing of Nijjar on the floor of the Canadian Parliament. India dismisses allegations. Diplomatic tensions rise over the next two weeks.

26. 26

    November 29

    The first indictment in the Pannun case is unsealed, and the foiled plot comes to the knowledge of the public.