
Murder Plot: India Recommends Legal Action Against Un-Named ‘Individual’
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – The Enquiry Committee set up by the Indian government in response to information from US authorities to look into inputs provided by the US on an alleged plot to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has recommended “legal action against an individual.”
The press release on January 15 pretty much acknowledged the involvement of a former Indian intelligence official in the plot but distanced itself from the individual. It refrained from naming Pannun or Yadav, as identified by US prosecutors, and reiterated the need for rapid legal action.
The committee, established in November 2023, was tasked with investigating the case which involved a former Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav. In October 2024, the US Justice Department filed charges against Yadav for murder-for-hire and money laundering in connection with the plot. According to US prosecutors, Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, who is now in a NY jail cell, collaborated with Indian government employee Vikash Yadav, agreeing to pay an assassin $100,000 to kill Pannun, a US-Canada dual citizen who heads the banned Sikhs for Justice outfit and is designated as a terrorist in India.
Soon after his name was cited by the US, Yadav was arrested in an extortion case by the Delhi Police Special Cell. After spending four months in Tihar, he was released on bail in April last year, media reports have said.
In a statement, the Home Ministry confirmed that the Enquiry Committee has now submitted its report, recommending swift legal action against the individual involved, whose prior criminal ties were uncovered during the investigation.
The committee’s investigation, a statement said, was extensive and involved examining various officials from different agencies and scrutinizing relevant documents. The committee also travelled to Washington on October 15 last year as part of its investigation to discuss the case with the US authorities. (with ANI)