The trial of an individual accused of orchestrating planned assassinations for the Indian government in New York has been postponed. The accused, Nikhil (Nick) Gupta, who is facing charges related to drug and arms smuggling, was set to stand trial in New York City. Gupta is alleged to have conspired with Indian government officials and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) to plot the murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist declared a terrorist by the Indian government.
Prosecutors in the case have filed pre-trial motions indicating their intent to introduce new evidence, such as wiretaps and video footage, related to the killing of Pannun’s deputy, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, B.C., in 2023. By raising questions about India’s role in the Nijjar case and presenting evidence linking Indian officials, the trial could complicate efforts to resolve the dispute between Indian and Canadian governments.
Gupta has requested a delay in the trial proceedings, citing dissatisfaction with his court-appointed lawyer and expressing his desire to represent himself. He alleged that his lawyer had engaged in unprofessional conduct, including failing to file a motion to dismiss charges on his behalf. The judge accepted Gupta’s motion for a delay, and a new trial date will be set during a pre-trial conference on Nov. 14, with Gupta now represented by a new public defender, David Touger.
While Gupta is not directly implicated in the plot to kill Hardeep Singh Nijjar, U.S. prosecutors intend to explore the connections between the alleged Pannun conspiracy and the group responsible for Nijjar’s death in Surrey. The court documents suggest a link between the two incidents through an unindicted co-conspirator associated with R&AW. Prosecutors plan to present wiretapped conversations and recordings at trial to support their case.
The Modi government has acknowledged the involvement of the co-conspirator but denies higher-level government participation, attributing the actions to a rogue individual. India has also refuted any involvement in the Nijjar killing. However, evidence expected to be presented during the trial may challenge these assertions. Federal authorities claim to possess wiretap evidence showing Gupta sharing a video of Nijjar’s killing with a supposed hit man shortly after the incident, urging him to pursue the assassination of Pannun in New York.
