US seeks action against Indian police officer in Pannun case
A fresh round of diplomatic-unease is expected between India and the US as the latter is seeking to probe an Indian Police official indicted by the US Department of Justice in the ‘failed-attempt’ to kill pro-Khalistan Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who heads the Sikhs for Justice (SJF).
The Indian enquiry committee, that includes the Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA), established to investigate activities of ‘certain individuals’, is in Washington DC.
The US State Department said: "On October 14, the Indian side was actively investigating the individual who was identified last year in the US Department of Justice’s indictment as an ‘Indian government employee’ who directed a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City."
The Indian Government employee as listed ‘CC-1’ in the DoJ. Source said ‘CC-1’ is a police officer, who was posted in North America and is now posted in India.
“Additionally, India has informed the United States they are continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow up steps, as necessary,” the US State Department said.
Indian Enquiry Committee is in Washington, DC, as part of their ongoing investigations to discuss the case, including information they have obtained, and to receive an update from US authorities regarding the US case that is proceeding.
Separately, in September, a US Federal Court issued summons against the Indian government, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, among others. The MEA had then responded terming it as based on “completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations".
A court in New York, acting on civil lawsuit filed by pro-Khalistan Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, issued the summons.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, had then said “these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations”.
The summons were issued by the US District Court for Southern District of New York. It names the Indian government, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Samant Goel, and R&AW person Vikram Yadav and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta.
In November 2023, US prosecutors charged Gupta with a plot to kill at least four Sikh separatists in America, including Pannun. Gupta has pleaded ‘not guilty’ in a US court. They alleged that Gupta was recruited in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination.
The US alleges that Gupta had paid $100,000 ( approx. Rs 80 lakhs) in cash to a hitman to assassinate Pannun, who hold dual citizenship of the US and Canada. US alleges, Gupta was allegedly directed by an Indian government official who was not named or charged.
The Union Ministry of Home Ministry has designated Pannun and the SFJ as a terrorist for his association with the movement for Khalistan.
