Ex-RAW official charged in US over plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Pannun

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally charged Vikash Yadav, a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for orchestrating a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist leader and vocal critic of the Indian government. Yadav, 39, is accused of directing the murder-for-hire scheme from India and has been charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering.

According to the indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Yadav recruited Nikhil Gupta, a 53-year-old Indian national, to carry out the assassination. In exchange for arranging the hit, Yadav allegedly promised to dismiss a criminal case against Gupta in India. Gupta was arrested in Prague in June 2023 and subsequently extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded not guilty.

The plot was reportedly foiled by U.S. authorities, who became aware of the assassination attempt. Undercover agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) posed as hitmen, working with Gupta to secure a $15,000 advance for the assassination. The indictment details how Gupta was instructed to delay the assassination until after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. in late June 2023.

The announcement of the charges follows a meeting in Washington, D.C., between U.S. officials and an Indian inquiry committee investigating the alleged roles of Indian nationals in the plot. Both the U.S. and Indian governments confirmed that Yadav is no longer an employee of the Indian government.

In addition to the plot against Pannun, Yadav was also implicated in plans for additional targeted killings in Canada. The Justice Department’s actions underscore a commitment to combat transnational repression and protect U.S. citizens from foreign threats.

Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and general counsel of the group Sikhs for Justice, stated that the assassination attempt illustrates India’s use of "transnational terrorism." Following the charges, he expressed confidence in the U.S. government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens’ rights. As of now, Yadav remains at large, with U.S. authorities continuing their investigation into the alleged conspiracy and its implications for U.S.-India relations.