US authorities have publicly disclosed photographs of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national facing serious charges for his alleged involvement in a thwarted assassination scheme targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American citizen designated as a terrorist by India. The New York Drug Enforcement Administration released the images following Gupta’s guilty plea in a federal court, resulting in a substantial prison sentence of up to 24 years.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation characterized the case as a stark example of transnational repression, emphasizing that the intended victim was targeted specifically for exercising constitutionally protected speech rights. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky stated that Gupta played a central role in orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot, which was successfully prevented through coordinated US law enforcement intervention.
According to judicial documents, the operation involved an unnamed Indian government official, referenced as CC-1 in court filings, who allegedly recruited Gupta to arrange the assassination. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed in October 2024 that the individual implicated in the US Justice Department’s indictment had previously been employed by the government but was no longer serving in that capacity at the time of the disclosure.
Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Canada, remains officially designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities. The case has significant implications for international relations and demonstrates the FBI’s continued vigilance against foreign threats targeting American citizens and their fundamental rights.