Breaking from a New York courtroom: Nikhil Gupta, central figure in the foiled assassination of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is now officially guilty. Sentencing on May 29 could lock him away for 40 years, marking a major win for U.S. counter-terrorism efforts.
Judge Victor Marrero’s order came after poring over chat transcripts and Gupta’s own admissions. Last week, the defendant copped to plotting Pannun’s 2023 demise, forking over $15,000 to a Manhattan-based killer, all while tracking the target’s New York whereabouts.
The dual convictions—for murder-for-hire and money laundering conspiracies—stack up to a statutory max of 40 years. Advisory benchmarks point to 20-24 years, but Marrero’s gavel will fall after full evidentiary scrutiny, unbound by those suggestions.
As an Indian citizen, Gupta’s path post-prison leads straight to expulsion, per federal mandates. This case’s gravity amplifies its implications, potentially straining diplomatic ties while affirming protections for vocal exiles.
From undercover stings to courtroom confessions, the narrative arc captivates: a plot hatched abroad, thwarted domestically. On May 29 at 10 a.m., closure arrives, with the sentence poised to echo in global security circles.