Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Assassination Plot: Who Is Nikhil Gupta, The Indian Man Arrested In Czech Republic?

The US Justice Department has filed a chargesheet against an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, in connection with the alleged assassination plot targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

According to the Justice Department, Gupta was arrested on June 30 and has been charged "in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen" of Indian origin in New York.

REUTERS

Who is Nikhil Gupta?

52-year-old Gupta, who lives in India, was arrested by authorities in the Czech Republic under US extradition orders.

The details of Gupta are still unclear, but according to the US Justice Department documents, he had some criminal cases registered against him in Gujarat.

According to the US Justice Department, Gupta was an associate of an Indian government employee based in Delhi or near the vicinity, who has not been named in the document but is referred to as CC-1.

Who is CC-1?

The official has been described as a "senior field officer" with responsibilities in "security management" and "intelligence" and is said to have previously served in India's Central Reserve Police Force.

What was the case against Nikhil Gupta in Gujarat?

In one of the intercepted conversations on May 12, 2023, CC-1, who spoke from a mobile number with an India country code, assured Gupta that his criminal case "has already been taken care of" and that "nobody from Gujarat Police is calling".

Days later, on May 23, in a follow-up call, CC-1 further assured Gupta that he spoke to his boss about the case and got an "all clear". CC-1 asserted that "nobody will ever bother you again" and even offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a DCP.

How many targets did Gupta have?

The US Justice Department documents indicate that Pannu could have been one of the many targets. In the conversations between CC-1 and Gupta, it was mentioned that there was a target in New York and another in California.

AFP

The Justice Department, which did not identify the target of the alleged assassination attempt, said that Gupta was recruited into the effort in May 2023.

How US uncovered the plot

According to the prosecutors, US officials became aware last spring of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun after the US Drug Enforcement Administration interceded and set up a sting, with an undercover agent posing as a hitman, after the conspirators recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to murder Pannu for $100,000.

REUTERS

When were the assassinations planned?

In June, CC-1 provided Gupta with the personal details of the New York target, including address, phone number, and day-to-day activities.

Gupta then passed on the information to the undercover agent who was posing as a hitman.

On the direction of CC-1, Gupta also shared regular 'updates' on the progress of the assassination plot, including surveillance photographs of the target.

Gupta had directed the hitman to carry out the murder as soon as possible but also specifically said that it should not be just before the high-level engagement of US and Indian government officials. (Modi's state visit to the US in June).

What happened after Nijjar's murder?

On June 18, after Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada, Gupta messaged the undercover agent, saying that he was also one of the targets.

REUTERS

After Nijjar's killing, Gupta messaged the undercover agent that there was "now no need to wait" to kill the New York target. Around June 20, CC-1 sent Gupta a news article about the New York target and said that it was a "priority now."

On June 29, Gupta messaged that the target had arrived back at his "home" and instructed him to carry out the murder, stating: "[t]ry to get this done if you have the visuals and if you are sure." On June 30, Gupta travelled from India to the Czech Republic, and upon his arrival in the country, he was arrested by Czech law enforcement.

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