Aakhir Tak – In Shorts
- Vikash Yadav, a former RAW officer, has been accused by the US of plotting to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
- His lawyers claim that the allegations are false and that Yadav is being scapegoated in international politics.
- The US Justice Department named Yadav along with his co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta in the plot.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth
Serious charges against former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav have sparked international controversy. The US Justice Department alleges that Yadav conspired with individuals in India and abroad to orchestrate the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Vikash Yadav’s lawyers, RK Handoo and Aditya Choudhary, in an interview with India Today TV, stated that these allegations are baseless and that Yadav is being scapegoated in international politics.
Allegations and Defense
Yadav’s lawyers claim that he first learned of these allegations through media reports. They emphasized that Yadav has never traveled abroad, dismissing the US allegations as part of a conspiracy against India and its judiciary. The lawyers also denied claims that an earlier extortion case was used to shield Yadav from extradition to the US, calling it an affront to India’s judicial system.
Detailed Charges in US Indictment
The New York court’s second indictment against Yadav alleges that he and his co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta offered $100,000 to carry out Pannun’s assassination. However, the person hired for the job turned out to be an FBI informant. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Yadav is no longer employed by the Indian government.
