Indian national accused of murder-for-hire plot against Sikh extremist in US pleads guilty
New York (PTI): Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against a Sikh extremist on American soil, on Friday pleaded guilty to the charges.
Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.
Gupta pleaded guilty before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn and is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29.
Gupta pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a statement.
According to the allegations contained in the indictment, other public court documents, and statements made in court, Gupta worked together with others in India and elsewhere, including, with co-defendant Vikash Yadav to plot Pannun’s assassination on US soil.
At Yadav’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder Pannun in New York City.
Yadav subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by Gupta, to pay the undercover officer USD 100,000 to murder the victim.
On or about June 9, 2023, Yadav and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver USD 15,000 in cash to the undercover officer as an advance payment for the murder.
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Maharashtra govt not ready to share LPG situation despite Speaker's directive: NCP (SP) leader
Mumbai (PTI): NCP (SP) legislature party leader Jayant Patil on Tuesday alleged the Maharashtra government is not willing to discuss and share information on the "widespread shortage" of LPG cylinders despite directions from the assembly speaker.
He alleged the state and Central governments have "completely failed" in handling the gas crisis, and accused the Mahayuti dispensation of trying to shift blame onto the opposition.
"The government should take the people and all political parties into confidence. There is a widespread shortage of LPG, with long queues seen everywhere. This is not a good situation, and the chief minister should have intervened by now," Patil told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan.
He added that the government is not prepared to share information on the LPG situation and is not willing to discuss the issue in the assembly.
The former minister said the "double engine" government is shirking its responsibility to resolve the crisis.
Referring to international developments, he said celebrations over ships arriving in the country overlooked the fact that many such shipments were needed daily, and claimed that strained ties with countries like Iran were affecting supplies.
Indian LPG carriers 'Shivalik' and ‘Nanda Devi’ have arrived safely at Mundra and Vadinar ports in Gujarat after safely passing the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
