The United States on October 17 released an indictment revealing the identity of a former R&AW official whom it holds responsible for a plot to assassinate pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
This indictment, which contains charges against the former Indian government official Vikash Yadav and arrested businessman Nikhil Gupta, is the second in this regard and supersedes the first indictment of November 2023.
This document provides the US’s version of events involving the alleged plot to murder Pannun. Pannun is referred to as a ‘Victim’ in it, and not by name.
Gupta, the indictment says, contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source (‘CS’) working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The CS introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was a DEA undercover officer (‘UC’).
In the US, an indictment is an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The following is a timeline of affairs, based on the indictment.
May 2023:
Early May: Yadav and Gupta communicate over encrypted applications. Yadav asks Gupta to arrange the murder of Pannun in exchange for securing the dismissal of Gupta’s criminal case in India. Gupta agrees. Both also met in New Delhi.
May 6, 2023:
- Yadav wrote to Gupta on an encrypted messaging application, asking him to save his name as “Aman”.
- Yadav mentions having a “target in New York” and another target in “California.” Gupta responds: “We will hit our all targets.”
May 12, 2023: Yadav tells Gupta that his criminal case in Gujarat “has already been taken care of.”
May 23, 2023: Yadav reassures Gupta about his Gujarat case, stating it is “all clear” and offers to arrange a meeting with a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
May 29, 2023:
- Gupta inquires from ‘CS’ if he knew anyone who could carry out a murder-for-hire in the U.S., specifying the victim is a lawyer who splits time between New York City and another U.S. city.
- Gupta messages CS with details about Pannun and the murder, discussing logistics and payment.
- Gupta sent screenshots of his messages with ‘CS’ to Yadav, who responded that “we ready to pay $150000”. Yadav agrees to CS’s demand of “100 k”, but says that Gupta replied to Yadav with a screenshot of the CS requesting “100 k.” Yadav responded “Ok,” and then added that while an advance payment was not possible, “the whole money will be paid with in [sic] 24 hours after the work is done.
June 2023:
June 1, 2023: Yadav sends Gupta Pannun’s street address in New York City.
June 2, 2023: Yadav asks for updates on the murder plot, indicating urgency.
June 3, 2023:
- Gupta urges CS to expedite the murder, emphasizing time sensitivity. Gupta asks CS to use a GPS app – that Yadav had previously had previously sent Gupta. Gupta asks CS to tell his team in n New York use the GPS Application to transmit surveillance of Pannun.
- Gupta messaged Yadav about discussions with the “NY group” regarding the assassination.
June 4, 2023:
- Gupta speaks with CS and promises a meeting with “the chief” if the job is done.
- Gupta receives a purported surveillance photograph of Pannun from the CS, with the text that Pannun would be killed as soon as they received an advance payment of $25,000.
June 5, 2023: Gupta sends the surveillance photo to Yadav, asking about arranging a $25,000 advance payment.
June 6, 2023: Gupta asks the CS to connect him directly with New York associates for the advance payment. CS introduces Gupta to UC. Gupta then sends screenshots of those messages to Yadav. Gupta also tells CS that the target should be not assassinated during the days that the Indian PM was on US soil in June.
June 7, 2023: Gupta informs Yadav that his associate in New York lacks funds for the advance payment.
June 8, 2023: Yadav provides Gupta with contact details for ‘Individual-1’, who can assist with the payment.
June 9, 2023:
- Yadav informs Gupta that Individual-1 confirmed the payment would be made that day, and they should “activate” the team for the murder “this weekend”.
- Gupta tells the purported hitman (UC) that another associate (Individual-2) would arrange the delivery of the “parcel” by noon.
- Individual-2 calls the UC and informs that the payment was ready.
- Individual meets in UC’s vehicle in Manhattan. UC makes a video call with Gupta during this meeting. Individual-2 hands over $15,000 in cash to the ‘hitman’.
- CS is told by Gupta that if UC carries out that the murder successfully, “we will give more bigger job more, more job every month, every month 2-3 job.”
June 10, 2023: Gupta confirms to Yadav that the advance payment has been made.
June 11, 2023: Yadav mentions urgency regarding the murder but advises waiting until after the Indian Prime Minister’s visit.
June 12, 2023:
- Gupta calls up ‘UC’ from a conference room, where he is seated with three other men in suits. “We are all counting on you,” he says.
- Gupta informs the CS and UC about additional victims targeted after the murder of Pannun, including a “big target” in Canada.
June 14, 2023:
- Gupta forwards a message from Yadav to the ‘hitman’ – “follow [Pannun] till the time he enters his house or any other final place”.
- He also informs CS that “we will be needing one good team in Canada also, [tomorrow] I will share you the details”.
June 15, 2023: Gupta informs CS that he was still to get details about the Canadian target.
June 16, 2023: He again assures CS, “we are doing their job, brother. We are doing their New York [and] Canada [job]”.
June 18, 2023:
- Hardeep Singh Nijjar is murdered in Canada.
- The video clip of Nijjar slumped in his vehicle is sent by Yadav to Gupta.
- Gupta forwards the clip to CS and UC immediately.
June 19, 2023:
- Gupta speaks to UC by audio call, tells UC that Nijjar “was also the target” but that he was “#4, #3” on the list.
- Gupta also tells UC not to worry because “we have many targets” and the good news is “now no need to wait.”
- Gupta also calls CS, confirms to CS that Nijjar was the target he had previously mentioned as the potential Canadian “job.”
- Gupta tells CS to expect Pannun to be more cautious because of Nijjar’s murder.
June 20, 2023:
- Yadav sends Gupta a news article on Pannun. Sends a text saying that this is a “priority now.”
- Shortly afterwards, Gupta speaks to CS over the phone and asks CS to “do it quickly.”
- Gupta gives CS a deadline of June 29 to “finish four jobs” and after that, “three in Canada.”
June 22, 2023:
- Yadav messages Gupta about Pannun’s whereabouts – that he is not at home – and says that Yadav “got the message from boss.”
- Immediately, Gupta tries to reach UC by phone.
- Yadav messages Gupta asking “them” to verify his presence in the house on their own. “[I]f they are able to get some proof that he is inside..it will be a go ahead from us,” Yadav writes.
June 24, 2023:
- Yadav messages Gupta on obtaining surveillance of Pannun using a GPS app.
- Gupta relays this to UC.
June 25, 2023: UC sends Gupta photos of the vicinity of Pannun’s house. Gupta sends portions of these photos to Yadav.
June 26, 2023:
- Yadav says, “Excellent” and notes they “are proving to be quite serious now.”
- Based on Yadav’s directions, Gupta tells UC to be ready for Pannun to be at his house, office or a cafe.
- UC sends Gupta another series of photos. Upon Gupta sending Yadav portions of these, Yadav gives Gupta four office and personal telephone numbers of Pannun’s.
June 29, 2023:
- Gupta tells UC that there is intelligence that Pannun is back home and should come out that day.
- Gupta tells UC to carry out the murder if he is sure.
June 30, 2023:
Gupta travels to the Czech Republic. He is arrested by Czech law enforcement authorities at the request of the US.
