The United States has formally charged Vikash Yadav, a former officer with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for allegedly planning a failed assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is currently living in New York City.
Former Indian Intelligence Officer Charged in Assassination Plot
Yadav faces serious allegations, including murder-for-hire and money laundering. The U.S. Justice Department claims he orchestrated the assassination attempt on Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated, “The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the U.S. for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”
According to reports, the assassination plot was initiated in May 2023. At that time, Yadav was said to be working for the Indian government and allegedly collaborated with individuals both in India and abroad to carry out the attack. Pannun is classified as a terrorist in India and is known for advocating for Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh state.
Extradition Efforts
Currently, Yadav, 39, remains in India, but U.S. officials are expected to pursue his extradition to face charges.
Plot Details and Recruitment
Yadav reportedly recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to carry out the assassination. Gupta was arrested in Prague last June after traveling from India and has since been extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment indicates that Yadav hired Gupta to “orchestrate the assassination of the victim in the United States.”
U.S. authorities claim Gupta felt a sense of urgency to kill Pannun, especially following the murder of another Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada in 2023. The indictment notes that Gupta believed there was “now no need to wait” for Pannun’s assassination after Nijjar’s death.
The indictment further states that Yadav and Gupta allegedly contracted someone to execute the killing for $100,000. However, this hired assassin turned out to be an undercover FBI informant. In June 2023, just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the U.S., the informant received a $15,000 advance for the murder from Yadav and Gupta. This transaction reportedly occurred in a car in New York and is documented with a photograph included in the indictment.
Cautions Against Immediate Action
The indictment also contains a photograph of Yadav in military attire. Prosecutors allege that Yadav instructed Gupta and the hired assassin to postpone the killing until after PM Modi’s visit to avoid any diplomatic complications during such a high-profile event. The indictment includes a message from Yadav to Gupta, stating: “Let them also verify by their own… if they are able to get some proof that he is inside… it will be a go ahead from us.”
Official Responses
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the individual mentioned in the U.S. indictment is no longer associated with the Indian government. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The US State Department informed us that the individual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India. I confirm that he is no longer an employee of the Government of India.”
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller acknowledged that an Indian delegation had met with a team from the FBI, Department of Justice, and the State Department. “We are satisfied with the cooperation,” he remarked, emphasizing that collaboration on the ongoing investigation continues.
In September, a U.S. court summoned the Indian government regarding a civil suit filed by Pannun, alleging a conspiracy to murder him. The Indian government dismissed the summons as “completely unwarranted.” This summons named the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former RAW chief Samant Goel, along with Yadav and Gupta, and required a response within 21 days.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “When these issues were first brought to our attention, we took action. There’s a high-level committee engaged (in this matter). I invite your attention to the person who filed this.”
