Jas Kandola

BREAKING | The US Justice Department released details of their investigation into the Indian plot to assassinate a Sikh US citizen on US soil, which has also led to charges being laid against an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta. Key takeaways here: - "Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, 2023 pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic." - "[E]arlier this year, an Indian government employee (CC-1), working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on U.S. soil an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the Victim)." - "Gupta is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1 and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others." - "CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India." - "At CC-1’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom Gupta believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with U.S. law enforcement (the CS), for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City. The CS introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact an undercover U.S. law enforcement officer (the UC)." - "CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim." - "Gupta directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but Gupta also specifically instructed the UC not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials." - "On or about June 19, the day after the [Hardeep Singh] Nijjar murder [in Canada], Gupta told the UC that Nijjar 'was also the target' and 'we have so many targets.'" - "Gupta added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was 'now no need to wait' on killing the Victim. On or about June 20, CC-1 sent Gupta a news article about the Victim and messaged Gupta, '[i]t’s [a] priority now.'" - "Gupta is charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison." 🔗justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-d…