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The United States has filed murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against former RAW operative Vikash Yadav in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Pannun in New York. The indictment, filed by the US Justice Department in the Southern District court of New York, paints a chilling picture of a transnational conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by an Indian government employee targeting a US citizen exercising their First Amendment rights.
The 18-page indictment describes Yadav, 39, as a former Indian government employee who directed the assassination plot from India, using the alias “Amanat.” It reveals that Yadav, while serving in the CRPF, was on deputation to the Cabinet Secretariat, which houses RAW, the Indian intelligence agency. The indictment details Yadav’s alleged involvement in recruiting Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national allegedly involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking, to orchestrate the assassination.
Gupta, under Yadav’s direction, contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate but was in fact a confidential source working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), for assistance in hiring a hitman to kill Pannun in New York. This confidential source, who introduced Gupta to a purported hitman who was actually a DEA undercover officer, ultimately facilitated the agreement between Yadav and the undercover agent for a $100,000 payment in exchange for Pannun’s murder. The indictment includes a close-up photograph of the money changing hands, highlighting the seriousness and meticulous nature of the alleged conspiracy.
The indictment also reveals that Nikhil Gupta instructed the undercover agent not to commit the murder around the time of Prime Minister Modi’s official state visit to the United States in June 2023. This detail suggests a calculated attempt to avoid potential international repercussions and diplomatic fallout during a high-profile visit.
The US government’s swift and decisive action in charging Yadav and Gupta, despite India’s denial of his current employment status, sends a strong message to other nations, particularly China and Russia, which have also been accused of conducting transnational operations against dissenters they deem anti-national. The US is emphasizing its commitment to disrupting and exposing such plots and holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of their nationality or position.
The case raises several important questions about the potential implications of this alleged conspiracy for India-US relations. The charges against Yadav and Gupta, if proven, could strain diplomatic ties and lead to increased scrutiny of Indian government activities within the US. The case also highlights the growing concern over transnational repression targeting diaspora communities and raises questions about the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks in addressing such threats.
Source: US opens RAW wounds with murder-for-hire charges against Indian operative