Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official, has been charged by US authorities for his involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. Pannun, a pro-Khalistan figure, was reportedly targeted around the time of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit.
The US Department of Justice has charged Yadav with murder-for-hire and money laundering. According to the FBI, Yadav, who remains at large, conspired with Nikhil Gupta, a criminal associate, to carry out the plot. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic last year and extradited to the US.
Federal prosecutors allege that Yadav and Gupta attempted to hire a hitman to kill Pannun, a US citizen, for exercising his First Amendment rights. The alleged assassin, an FBI informant, was offered $100,000 for the job and received an advance of $15,000 in June 2023.
FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the plot, emphasizing the US’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ rights. Attorney General Merrick Garland echoed this, stating that the US will not tolerate such actions.
The Indian government has denied any involvement in the assassination attempt, confirming that Yadav is no longer employed by the Indian government. A committee has been established in India to investigate the allegations. US officials have expressed satisfaction with India’s cooperation in the ongoing investigation. Yadav’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the FBI has issued a wanted poster for his capture.