U.S. prosecutors based in Manhattan are gearing up to present crucial evidence in an upcoming trial that will shed fresh insights into the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The evidence is set to be unveiled during the trial of Nikhil (Nick) Gupta, who stands accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The allegations implicate Gupta, a suspected trafficker of drugs and firearms, in collaborating with an official from India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), named Vikash Yadav. Together, they allegedly plotted the assassination of Pannun, the founder of Sikhs For Justice, a group advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, as well as at least three other individuals, including Nijjar, Pannun’s deputy in Canada.
Gupta, aged 53, was apprehended in Czechia and extradited to the U.S. in June 2024. The case has stirred tensions as India views Pannun as a terrorist, while the U.S. and Canada, where Pannun is a citizen, do not share the same perspective. Pannun maintains that his endeavors focus solely on organizing peaceful referendums within the Sikh community worldwide.
In a significant development, the filing by the U.S. government allegedly provides concrete evidence implicating official Indian involvement in the plot to assassinate Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. Gupta has pleaded not guilty, and the trial is scheduled to commence on November 3.
The negotiations between the Biden administration and the Modi government culminated in an agreement in October 2024, stipulating that Yadav would no longer serve in the Indian government. This move aimed to safeguard U.S.-Indian relations and portrayed Yadav as a rogue actor to shield higher-ranking officials from scrutiny. However, Canadian investigators have asserted that the plot reached the upper echelons of the Indian government.
The court filing also includes details of a video showing the aftermath of Nijjar’s killing, with prosecutors alleging that Yadav swiftly forwarded the video to Gupta, who then relayed it to a confidential source and the supposed hitman, who was actually an undercover federal agent.
Furthermore, transcripts of conversations between Gupta, the confidential source, and the undercover agent have been disclosed, revealing discussions about the murder video, potential targets in Canada, and a scheme involving guns and narcotics smuggling.
The court filing underscores the U.S. government’s intent to link the Government of India to the killings, alleging a motive to eliminate Sikh separatists. Expert testimony from Nitasha Kaul, a professor at the University of Westminster, is sought to provide insights into the Indian government’s stance on Pannun, Nijjar, and their organization, highlighting the perceived threat they pose.
This testimony, aiming to elucidate the reasons behind Yadav enlisting Gupta for the murder, may spark controversy in New Delhi, where officials have distanced themselves from the Pannun plot and the Nijjar killing. Kaul, who has faced repercussions for her criticism of the Modi government, is expected to testify as an expert witness in the trial.