US accuses Indian official of plotting to kill Khalistani separatist Pannun

The indictment alleged that the official — who has not been named and is referred to as CC-1 — is an Indian government agency employee who has described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence.” He has also been referred to as previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.”

In or about May 2023, the Indian official “recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination” of Pannun in the US, the indictment said. It added that the official assured Gupta that “your Gujarat (case) had been “taken care of” and “nobody will ever bother you again.” He further offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a “DCP” (Deputy Commissioner of Police).

Gupta resides in India and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with the official and others, the indictment said.

At the official’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate but who was, in fact, a “confidential source” working with US law enforcement. The confidential source (referred to as CS) introduced Gupta to a purported hitman who was actually an undercover US law enforcement officer (referred to as UC), it said.

The Indian official “agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the undercover officer USD 100,000 to murder” Pannun.

The indictment said, “On or about June 2, 2023”, the Indian official messaged Gupta, asking for “any update” on the murder plot, stating “it’s important and less time.” Gupta responded that he expected to have an update the following day. The next day, on or about June 3, 2023, Gupta spoke with the confidential source by audio call, and urged him 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.”

On or about June 9, “the Indian official and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the undercover officer as an advance payment for the murder. The Indian official’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the undercover officer in Manhattan”, it said.

“In or about June 2023, the Indian official provided Gupta with personal information about Pannun including his home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with him and details about his day-to-day conduct, which Gupta then passed to the undercover officer,” it said.

It said that the Indian official directed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which Gupta accomplished by forwarding to him, among other things, surveillance photographs of Pannun.

“Gupta directed the undercover officer to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but Gupta also specifically instructed him not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials,” it said.

Gupta explained that, given the victim’s (Pannun’s) public profile as an activist, there could be protests in the wake of his death, which could lead to “political things,” referring to geopolitical fallout if Pannun were assassinated on US soil during those planned meetings.

“Gupta added that after the planned engagements, there would be ‘more jobs, more jobs,’ referring to more targeted killings like that of the Victim to be carried out in the future.. the Indian official instructed Gupta not to carry out the assassination… in the immediate lead-up to, or during, the planned engagements between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials. For example, on or about June 11, 2023, after receiving from Gupta additional purported surveillance photographs of the Victim (Pannun), the Indian official messaged 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 engagements.”

Incidentally, Prime Minister Modi visited the US for a state visit between June 21 and 23 when he met US President Joe Biden.

The indictment refers to the June 18 murder, by masked gunmen, of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada.

The indictment said, “Later that evening, the Indian official sent Gupta a video clip showing Nijjar’s bloody body slumped in his vehicle. Gupta replied that he wished he had personally conducted the killing and asked the Indian official for permission to go to the field.”

“The Indian official responded that “secrecy (is) important,” and “(i)t’s better you do not get involved in action.” Approximately one hour later, the Indian official sent Gupta the street address of Pannun’s residence in New York City.”

It said that Gupta forwarded the video clip showing Nijjar’s bloody body to the confidential and the undercover officer minutes after receiving it from the Indian official.

“Soon after, on or about June 19, Gupta spoke with the undercover officer by audio call, and Gupta told the undercover officer that Nijjar ‘was also the target’ but that Nijjar was ‘#4, #3’ on the list, and ‘not to worry [because] we have so many targets, we have so many targets. But the good news is this, the good news is this: now no need to wait,” the indictment said.

Separately, Gupta also held an audio call with the source, during which he confirmed that Nijjar was the target that he had previously mentioned as the potential Canadian “job” stating: “This is the guy, I send you the video …. We didn’t give to (the undercover officer) this job, so some other guy did this job … in Canada.”

“In a change from his prior instruction to delay killing the victim (Pannun) until after the scheduled engagements between high-level US and Indian government officials, Gupta told the source that the undercover officer should kill Pannun as soon as possible, informing the source that ‘we got the go-ahead to go anytime, even today, tomorrow — as early as possible”.

Gupta also told the source to expect the victim (Pannun) to be more careful in the wake of the Nijjar murder: “He will be more cautious, because in Canada, his colleague is down. His colleague is down. I sent you the video. So he will be more cautious, so we should not give them the chance, any chance.” Gupta added: “If he is not alone, (if) there are two guys with him in the meeting or something . . . put everyone down, put everyone down,” the indictment said.

“On or about June 19, the day after the Nijjar murder, Gupta told the UC that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.” Gupta added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing the Victim. On or about June 20, the Indian official sent Gupta a news article about the Victim and messaged Gupta, “[i]t’s [a] priority now”, the indictment said.

“Shortly thereafter, Gupta spoke to the confidential source by audio call, and he directed the source to “find the opportunity” to kill” Pannun and to “do it quickly.” Gupta stated that before the “29th (of June) we have to finish four jobs,” i. e., the Victim (Pannun) and, after that, “three in Canada”, the indictment said.