Fresh unease as Indian cop on US radar in Gurpatwant Singh 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 for an alleged assassination attempt on pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who heads the banned Sikhs for Justice.

The police official, who has been listed by the Department of Justice as ‘CC-1’ in its indictment, is accused of directing the foiled attempt to kill Pannun, a US citizen who has been designated as a terrorist by India, in New York City last year. Sources have identified ‘CC-1’ as a police official who was posted in North America and has since returned to India.

The US State Department had said on October 14 that the Indian side was “actively investigating the government employee”. “India has informed the US of continuing efforts to investigate other linkages of a former government employee and will determine follow-up steps, as necessary,” the State Department had said.

Incidentally, an Indian inquiry committee is currently in Washington DC to investigate the activities of “certain individuals”. The committee, which includes a Deputy National Security Adviser, is also expected to discuss with the US authorities their part of the investigations into the case and to receive an update from the Washington authorities.

Responding to queries, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said last night that the timing of the US’ announcement of the Indian team’s visit and the India-Canada diplomatic row was “completely coincidental”.

Separately, Miller went on to ask India to cooperate with Canada, saying, “When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made it clear that the allegations are extremely serious and these need to be taken seriously… we wanted to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not chosen that path.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused Indian Government officials of being involved in the targeting of Sikhs in Canada. Sources in New Delhi had on Tuesday rejected the claims, saying “no credible” evidence and “no specifics” had been presented with regard to any ongoing investigation in Canada.

In September, a US federal court had issued summons against the Indian Government, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel, R&AW official Vikram Yadav and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta. The Ministry of External Affairs had then responded by saying the case was based on “completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations”. Pannun had filed the suit in the US court, which had issued the summons. In November 2023, US prosecutors charged Gupta with a plot to kill at least four Sikh separatists, including Pannun, in America. They alleged that Gupta was recruited in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassinations. Gupta had pleaded “not guilty”.

The prosecutors alleged that Gupta had paid $1,00,000 (about Rs 80 lakh) in cash to a hitman to assassinate Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. They alleged that Gupta was directed by an Indian government official.

Meanwhile, the UK said on Wednesday with reference to the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row that the Government of India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process was the right next step over the “serious developments”.

Impose sanctions on diplomats: Jagmeet

• Canadian Sikh leader Jagmeet Singh on Tuesday demanded a ban on the RSS and sanctions against the Indian diplomats
• Known for his pro-Khalistan stance, Jagmeet is the leader of the New Democratic Party that had in the past supported the Trudeau government
• He alleged an Indian hand in the killing of Canadians