Pannun Doval Lawsuit: Court Rejects Summons Service Claim

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

A US court has rejected Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s claim.
Pannun claimed serving summons to NSA Ajit Doval in the Pannun Doval lawsuit.
The alleged service attempt occurred during Prime Minister Modi’s US visit.
The judge ruled that the summons service was not completed as per procedure.
Pannun sued Doval and Indian national Nikhil Gupta over an alleged assassination plot.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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Introduction: Pannun’s Claim and Court’s Rejection

A US court has dismissed claims made by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun regarding the Pannun Doval lawsuit. Pannun had asserted that he successfully delivered a court summons to India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States. However, this assertion has been formally rejected by the court, according to PTI reports. The lawsuit revolves around an alleged foiled plot to assassinate Pannun on US soil, for which Pannun has sued NSA Doval and another Indian national, Nikhil Gupta.

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Court Clarifies: Service Not Completed

US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla provided a clear ruling on the matter. “The court has found that service was not completed,” Judge Failla stated unequivocally. She further elaborated, “The complaint was not delivered to a member of the hotel management or staff or any officers or agents providing security for the defendant, as required by the court’s order.” This ruling directly contradicts Pannun’s claims of having followed the necessary legal procedures for serving the summons in the Pannun Doval lawsuit.

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Failed Attempts to Serve Summons

Pannun, who heads the banned organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), claimed he had hired “two process servers and one investigator” to serve court documents, including the summons, on NSA Doval. Doval was accompanying PM Modi during his US visit on February 12-13 for a meeting with President Donald Trump.

According to court papers filed by Pannun, the first attempt to deliver the complaint occurred on February 12 at Blair House. This is where PM Modi and the Indian delegation were residing. However, US Secret Service agents guarding Blair House refused to accept any documents. They directed the process server to leave the checkpoint immediately.

The following day, February 13, another attempt was made. Again, Secret Service agents prevented the individual from proceeding beyond the security checkpoint. When the server attempted to place the documents on the ground outside the guest house, agents reportedly threatened him with arrest. Consequently, the server left the summons at a nearby Starbucks store. He then asked the agents to retrieve it from there and deliver it to Doval. The court did not deem this method as valid service for the Pannun Doval lawsuit.

Background of the Lawsuit and Nikhil Gupta

The context for this lawsuit emerged in November 2023. The US Justice Department publicly revealed a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun in New York. They subsequently indicted an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, in connection with this plot. Gupta was initially detained in Prague, Czech Republic. He was later extradited to the United States in June 2024 to face charges. Gupta stands accused of collaborating with a former Indian government official, identified as Vikash Yadav, to target Pannun. The Pannun Doval lawsuit was filed against this backdrop of alleged international conspiracy.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

The US court dismissed Pannun’s claim of serving summons on Ajit Doval in the Pannun Doval lawsuit.
Pannun attempted the service during PM Modi’s US visit in February.
The judge ruled the attempted summons delivery did not adhere to court-ordered procedures.
This lawsuit is linked to the alleged foiled plot to assassinate the Khalistani terrorist Pannun.
Indian national Nikhil Gupta has been extradited to the US over charges related to this plot.