INDIA’S Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday that a high-powered inquiry committee set up by the Indian Government in November 2023 had “recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry.” It added: “The Enquiry Committee has recommended that the legal action must be completed expeditiously.”
It said that the inquiry committee was set up “on receipt of information provided by US authorities regarding activities of some organised criminal groups, terrorist organisations, drug peddlers, etc., who undermined the security interests of both India and the US.”
Although the press statement did not mention any names, it is understood that the inquiry was in connection to a foiled plot to assassinate prominent Khalistan advocate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen in New York City. Pannun is the legal counsel of the Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice, that is banned in India.
Last October, the U.S. Justice Department had announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, 39, also known as Vikas, and Amanat, in connection with his role in directing the plot.
The U.S. Justice Department said at the time that “Yadav was employed by the Government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses Indian’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing. Yadav has described his position as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence.” Yadav also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” Yadav is a citizen and resident of India, and he directed the plot to assassinate the Victim from India.”
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs said this week: “The Enquiry Committee conducted its own investigations, and also pursued leads provided by the US side. It received full cooperation from US authorities and the two sides also exchanged visits. The Committee further examined a number of officials from different agencies and also scrutinised relevant documents in this connection.”
It also said: “The Committee has further recommended functional improvements in systems and procedures as also initiation of steps that could strengthen India’s response capability, ensure systematic controls and coordinated action in dealing with matters like this.”
In November, 2023, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was charged with murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in the foiled plot to assassinate Pannun. Last October, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Gupta did not work alone,” adding that Yadav “orchestrated the plot from India and directed Gupta to hire a hitman to murder the victim.”

According to an indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Gupta told an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent on or about June 19, 2023, the day after Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara President Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Canada that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.”
In Canada, Indian nationals Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, and Amandeep Singh, 22, have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection to Nijjar’s assassination.