The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a summons to the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and former R&AW chief Samant Goel, in connection with the assassination plot of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice. The Indian government has responded sharply to this development.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a statement, said, “As we’ve mentioned earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this case has been lodged, it doesn’t change our stance. I would like to draw your attention to the person behind this case, whose background is well known.”
He further added, “I would also highlight the fact that the organization represented by this individual is unlawful. It has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 due to its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Earlier, the US District Court named India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and former R&AW chief Samant Goel in the summons. Two other individuals, Nikhil Gupta and Vikram Yadav, who have been accused in connection with the assassination plot, were also summoned.
Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York. He was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic in June 2024.
In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that Vikram Yadav, an officer with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), was implicated as the official behind the plot. The report also mentioned that then R&AW chief Samant Goel had approved the operation.
The Indian government, however, dismissed the report, calling it “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations” about Indian agents being involved in the plot to kill Pannun.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada, is wanted in India on terror-related charges. He has been designated a terrorist under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Union Home Ministry.
