The U.S. Justice Department has announced serious charges against Vikash Yadav, a 39-year-old Indian government employee, accusing him of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. Yadav, also known as Vikas or Amanat, allegedly tried to arrange the assassination of a U.S. citizen living in New York City. The target? A vocal critic of the Indian government, advocating for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, which has caused tension between Indian authorities and Sikh activists.
Yadav remains at large, but his alleged co-conspirator, 53-year-old Nikhil Gupta, has already been extradited to the U.S. and faces similar charges. This isn’t just a simple hit; it’s a story of international intrigue and tension, with ties to government power, political activism, and dangerous alliances.
The Plot Unfolds
Yadav, who works for the Indian government’s Cabinet Secretariat—an office closely tied to India’s foreign intelligence agency, RAW—allegedly directed this plot from India. His goal was to eliminate a U.S. citizen of Indian origin, a political activist advocating for the separation of Punjab, a state in northern India where many Sikhs live, from India. The victim, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun however is a wanted terrorist in India and had been banned from entering India due to his outspoken activism and leadership in the U.S.-based organization supporting the creation of Khalistan. Recently, Pannun put out a $500,000 bounty on Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada.
According to the Justice Department, in May 2023, Yadav recruited Nikhil Gupta, a man involved in international arms and drug trafficking, to help carry out the assassination. Gupta reached out to someone he believed was a fellow criminal, but in a twist, this person was actually an undercover agent working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The undercover agent introduced Gupta to a supposed hitman—who was, in reality, another DEA agent.
Yadav, communicating through Gupta, agreed to pay $100,000 for the murder. To seal the deal, Yadav’s associate handed over a $15,000 advance to the undercover hitman in Manhattan. They provided the hitman with detailed information about the victim’s life—addresses, phone numbers, and even the victim’s daily routine.
The plot thickened when, just days before the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the U.S. in June 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a fellow Khalistan supporter, in Canada. This killing sent shockwaves through the Sikh community and added urgency to Yadav’s plan. After Nijjar’s murder, Gupta told the undercover hitman to proceed with killing the New York City victim. “We have so many targets,” Gupta reportedly said, making it clear that this was part of a larger, coordinated effort to target terrorists around the world.
Foiled Just in Time
However, the entire assassination plot was being monitored by U.S. law enforcement. The DEA, FBI, and New York law enforcement agencies worked together to gather enough evidence to bring the charges against Yadav and Gupta. While Gupta is in U.S. custody, Yadav remains at large, possibly still in India.
The charges are severe: conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, money laundering, and related crimes, all carrying hefty prison sentences of up to 20 years. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams made it clear in a statement that the right to free speech is sacred, and anyone who tries to silence others through violence will be held accountable.
Why It Matters
This case highlights a growing concern over “transnational repression”—when foreign governments or their associates attempt to threaten, harm, or silence people living in the U.S. for political reasons. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen warned that this trend is on the rise, especially as diaspora communities in the U.S. become more vocal critics of their home countries. The Justice Department has vowed to protect the rights of U.S. citizens and crack down on any attempts by foreign nationals to interfere with those rights.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized that acts of violence meant to suppress free speech or intimidate individuals in the U.S. will not be tolerated, regardless of where they originate.
What’s Next?
As the hunt for Yadav continues, this case serves as a stern reminder of how international politics and personal freedoms can collide in dangerous ways. It also showcases the dedication of U.S. law enforcement in preventing these violent plots from being carried out, ensuring that the U.S. remains a safe haven for free expression, no matter who you are or where you come from.
The Justice Department has made it clear: No one, not even government officials, are above the law when it comes to targeting American citizens. While the United States and Canada view this case through the lens of freedom of speech, India perceives the situation very differently.
The Khalistan movement is being fueled by two key factors: money and manipulation. First, it receives financial support from foreign powers that want to destabilize India. These powers encourage the movement to keep tension high in Punjab and embarrass India on the global stage. Second, many Sikhs living abroad are being misled into believing that creating Khalistan is possible. These overseas supporters are often used as a source of funding, keeping the movement alive even though it has almost no support in India itself.
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