Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty on Friday (13th February) in a United States court in the murder-for-hire conspiracy case linked to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. According to a report by The Indian Express, sources close to the family informed that Gupta took the decision to bring an end to a long, draining and financially crippling legal fight.
Family members say they had some sense that such a step might eventually be taken, but they were informed of his final decision only through his lawyer on Friday, 13th February. Within hours, news of the guilty plea was already circulating in the media.
People close to the family believe Gupta may have felt cornered by the circumstances. “The family has been fighting this for so long. He would have seen how much pressure it was putting on them. From what they’ve been told, he hasn’t turned approver or implicated anyone else. He has taken everything upon himself,” a source said. The sudden development has reportedly left Gupta’s wife and elderly mother in shock. “For them, this is the hardest blow,” the source added.
Gupta, 54, is said to have spoken to his family over the phone just days before entering the plea. However, he did not indicate that he was about to admit guilt. Those close to him say the decision seems to have come under immense strain, with limited options left.
“There is obviously a funds crunch. They have exhausted all their money fighting this battle. But they are now exploring whether they can raise some money to get him a lawyer for the sentencing hearing, expected in the last week of May,” another source told The Indian Express.
Gupta pleaded guilty before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court. He admitted to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. These charges together carry a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison. He is expected to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero in late May.
According to US prosecutors, Gupta admitted to paying $15,000 as an advance to arrange the killing of Pannun in 2023. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed the development.
Arrest, extradition and financial strain
Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in Prague on 30th June, 2023, at the request of the United States under an extradition treaty. He was extradited to the US in June 2024 and has since been lodged in a Brooklyn jail in New York.
The prolonged legal battle has drained the family’s finances. Sources say they were forced to discontinue their private lawyer due to a lack of funds. Eventually, Gupta requested a government-appointed counsel in the US, which was granted. “They’ve exhausted their savings fighting this case. Now they are trying to see if they can somehow raise money for proper representation at the sentencing hearing,” another source said.
The family also claims that despite repeated attempts to reach out to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), no one from the government has contacted them to offer assistance. Earlier, in an interview published in January 2025, Gupta had said he received Indian consular access thrice during his detention in Prague, but none in the first six months after being extradited to the US.
Background of the case
The case dates back to allegations by the US Justice Department that Gupta was involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun, an American citizen, in New York. Prosecutors alleged that a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, recruited Gupta in May 2023 to arrange the killing. Yadav allegedly agreed to pay $100,000 for the hit. However, the person Gupta contacted turned out to be a confidential source for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who then introduced him to an undercover officer posing as a hitman.
An advance payment of $15,000 was allegedly delivered on 9th June, 2023. US authorities claimed that Pannun’s address, phone numbers and daily routine were shared as part of the plan.
Earlier, Gupta had denied any links to Vikash Yadav, his alleged co-conspirator, accused of orchestrating the plot to murder Pannun, and called the evidence presented by the US “fabricated.”
New Delhi has also denied any role in the alleged plot, calling the accusations “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.” The MEA stated that Yadav is no longer a government employee and announced the formation of a high-level inquiry committee.
As of now, the MEA has not officially reacted to Gupta’s guilty plea. Meanwhile, those close to Gupta suggest that the plea may not reflect acceptance of guilt as much as a desperate attempt to end a battle that had become too heavy to carry any longer.
