BLOOMBERG News is reporting that according to senior officials India’s investigation shows that at least one person directly involved in the foiled plot to assassinate US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is no longer working for India’s spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing.
New York-based Pannun is the legal counsel of the Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice, that is banned in India.
The details of the investigation haven’t been made public. The individual is still employed by the government and India hasn’t started any criminal action against him, Bloomberg News was told.
India has reportedly informed US authorities about the findings from the government-appointed panel set up to probe the allegations.
Last December, US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, told reporters: “We have noted at the most senior levels of this government — the Secretary of State has raised this directly with his foreign counterpart that we take this issue very seriously. They told us they would conduct an investigation.”
In response to a question on developments in the case at the diplomatic level, he said: “They have publicly announced an investigation. And now we’ll wait to see the results of the investigation, but it’s something we take very seriously.”
Last November, Indian national Nikhil Gupta (aka “Nick”), 52, was charged with murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun in New York City. The charges were contained in a superseding indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The indictment also noted: “On or about June 18, 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was an associate of the Victim [Pannun], and like the Victim, was a leader of the Sikh separatist movement and an outspoken critic of the Indian government. On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, Gupta told the UC that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.” Gupta added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing the Victim.”
The indictment states that CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.
