U.S. charges Indian national in connection with assassination attempt with ties to Canada

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it has charged an Indian national in connection with the foiled assassination attempt of a Khalistani separatist leader in that country, who has ties to Canada.

The office says the would-be victim, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen “was an associate” of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in June.

The Attorney General says it’s alleged Nikhil Gupta was directed by an Indian government official — identified only as CC-1 — between May and June to hire someone to carry out the murder of Pannun in the U.S. It notes that didn’t happen because the contracted killer was actually an undercover U.S. agent.

“At CC-1’s direction, GUPTA contacted an individual whom GUPTA believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (the “CS”), for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City,” the Attorney General’s office wrote Wednesday.

“The CS introduced GUPTA to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer (the ‘UC’). CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by GUPTA to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim. On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan.”

The office adds it has linked Nijjar’s killing to the alleged plot against Pannun in the U.S. and alleges Gupta was also involved in communications about the the 45-year-old temple president’s death.

In June 2023, Gupta allegedly told the undercover agent 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, 2023, CC-1 sent GUPTA a news article about the Victim and messaged GUPTA, ‘[i]t’s [a] priority now,'” the Attorney General’s office explains.

The office says Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

The indictment notes other potential plots across the U.S. and Canada.

In September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” linking Nijjar’s killing to India’s government.

“Canada is a rule of law country. The protection of our citizens and defence of our sovereignty are fundamental,” Trudeau said on Sept. 18.

“Our top priorities have therefore been, one, that our law enforcement and security agencies ensure the continued safety of all Canadians, and two, that all steps be taken to hold perpetrators of this murder to account.”

These comments led to more diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, with each country expelling each other’s diplomats and India introducing a visa ban on Canadian nationals, which was later lifted.

Canada in communication with U.S. about concerns: Joly

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly told reporters Wednesday that she would not “comment directly” on “what’s happening in the U.S.,” noting her respect for the work of law enforcements agencies there and the “independence of their legal system.”

“What I can tell you though, is that we stand by our own credible allegations that there was a killing of a Canada, on Canadian soil, linking to Indian agents,” she said.

Joly says she’s had “numerous conversations” with her American counterparts about the concerns involving India.

“At the same time, we call on India to engage in our own investigation, and I think it is important that they do so. I am also in contact with Indian Foreign Minister (Subrahmanyam) Jaishankaron this very issue,” she added.