Indian government agent directed plot to assassinate Sikh activist, US says

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - An Indian government employee directed the thwarted assassination of a Sikh activist in New York City, the Justice Department said Wednesday as it announced charges against an alleged co-conspirator.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, was allegedly involved in a foiled plot to murder an unnamed attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian descent, the agency said in a statement. Gupta allegedly was brought into the plot to kill the activist by an Indian government agent, who is also not named.

Gupta is an Indian national who was recruited by New Delhi's agent "to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States," according to the department.

The intended victim is a vocal Sikh critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and advocates for the secession of the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. The state is home to a large Sikh community. The victim and his organization have been banned in India, according to the US.

Court documents allege that Gupta sought to contract the killing out to a person he thought was a criminal associate, but who was working as a confidential informant with US federal agents. The individual then put Gupta in contact with someone who he purported to be a hitman, but who was instead an undercover officer.

Gupta offered to pay the officer $100,000 to murder the victim, supplying him with the victim's personal information, including his home address and day-to-day routine, the indictment alleges.

Gupta is alleged to have then ordered the agent to kill the victim as soon as possible, but to refrain from carrying out the assassination around times of high-level meetings between US and Indian officials.

Gupta has been charged with one count each of murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per charge if convicted.

He was arrested by Czech authorities June 30. It is unclear if he has yet been extradited to the US.