Indian National Faces Murder-for-Hire Charges in Attempted Assassination of Canadian Sikh Leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Accident – Death – Obituary News : An Indian national is currently facing murder-for-hire charges in a case that American law enforcement officials are describing as an attempt “to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil.” The alleged plot has been linked to an employee of the Indian government, identified as CC-1 in Department of Justice documents. The case involves the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C. on June 18, 2023.

The accused, Nikhil “Nick” Gupta, aged 52, was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and subsequently extradited to the United States. According to the indictment, Gupta was approached by CC-1 in May 2023, who allegedly sought his assistance in orchestrating the assassination of a prominent critic of the Indian government. This target is described as someone who leads a U.S.-based organization advocating for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India with a large Sikh population.

The indictment reveals that CC-1 offered to help Gupta secure the dismissal of a criminal case against him in India. Gupta, at CC-1’s direction, then contacted an individual in New York City whom he believed could help him hire a hitman. Unbeknownst to Gupta, this person was actually a confidential source working for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The source introduced Gupta to an undercover officer posing as a hitman.

CC-1 allegedly agreed to pay $100,000 for the assassination, and Gupta provided the undercover officer with the target’s home address, phone numbers, and details of his daily activities. Gupta also instructed the officer not to carry out the murder during high-profile dealings between the Indian and American governments. After Nijjar’s murder, CC-1 allegedly sent Gupta a video clip showing Nijjar’s body in his vehicle, confirming that the target had been eliminated. Gupta then informed the officer that Nijjar was “also the target” and that there were more targets to come.

The indictment further states that CC-1 informed Gupta of another target in California, and Gupta mentioned that this assassination would lead to more “jobs” in the future. Gupta eventually told the undercover officer that there was no need to wait, and on June 20, he received a message from Pannun, another individual involved in the plot, stating that the assassination was now a priority. Ten days later, Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities.

Gupta now faces charges of murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, both of which carry maximum sentences of 10 years in prison. However, it is important to note that none of these allegations have been proven in court.

In response to the allegations, Reuters reported that India will formally investigate the security concerns raised by the United States regarding its links to the foiled plot. The Indian foreign ministry confirmed that they received a warning from the White House about their involvement in the plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Global News has reached out to the Indian high commission in Ottawa for comment.

As the case unfolds, authorities will continue to investigate the alleged connection between Gupta, CC-1, and the Indian government. The seriousness of the charges highlights the determination of law enforcement agencies to protect U.S. citizens from threats, both at home and abroad..