Nikhil Gupta Pleads Guilty: Big Twist in Pannun Plot Linked to Nijjar Killing

Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US court in the alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He admitted to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering charges. US authorities also linked the case to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Gupta now faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

Who Is Nikhil Gupta And What Did He Admit?

Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian citizen, was accused of planning the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Prosecutors said he tried to hire a hitman in 2023. That hitman, it turned out, was an undercover US officer.

After fighting the charges for months, Gupta changed his stand. In February 2026, he pleaded guilty to all three counts listed in the 2024 indictment by the United States Department of Justice. These include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He will be sentenced on May 29. The maximum combined punishment could go up to 40 years.

How Did The Arrest And Extradition Happen?

Gupta was arrested in Prague in June 2023. He had travelled there from India. Czech authorities detained him under an extradition treaty with the United States.

A court in the Czech Republic rejected his plea against extradition in May 2024. Soon after, he was sent to the US. Since then, he has been lodged in a Brooklyn prison. For months, he said he was innocent. Now, that has changed.

How Is The Nijjar Killing Connected?

The US has drawn links between the Pannun plot and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in July 2023.

In official statements, the Justice Department referred to the intended victim as an associate of Nijjar. Both were described as leaders in the Sikh separatist movement and critics of the Indian government.

Investigators said that a day after Nijjar was shot outside a gurdwara in Canada, Gupta told the undercover officer that Nijjar “was also the target” and that there were “many targets”. That line became a major part of the US narrative.

The term transnational repression was used in both cases. Canada had earlier used the same phrase while accusing Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing. India strongly denied those allegations.

Alleged Link To Indian Official

US prosecutors have alleged that Gupta worked in coordination with an Indian government employee. The indictment named Vikash Yadav, described as linked to India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses the Research and Analysis Wing.

India has rejected claims of official involvement. The Ministry of External Affairs called the allegations unwarranted and unsubstantiated. A high-level inquiry committee was also set up in 2023 to examine US concerns.

Later, India stated that the individual named in the US indictment was no longer employed by the government.

What Happens Next?

Sentencing is scheduled for May 29. The court will decide the final punishment. While the maximum term is 40 years, the exact sentence depends on legal arguments and court assessment.

This case has added fresh strain to India’s ties with the US and Canada. It is not just a criminal case now. It has become a diplomatic issue too, quiet but serious.