Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court on Friday to his involvement in a failed assassination attempt of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta, 54, has pleaded guilty to three serious charges: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to U.S. officials, Gupta was an important part of the conspiracy. Gupta is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, and faces a possible prison term of up to 40 years.
Gupta has confessed to his involvement in the failed assassination attempt of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The assassination attempt never happened as U.S. law enforcement agencies intervened before any harm could be caused to the target.
Who is Nikhil Gupta?
Nikhil Gupta, also known as “Nick,” is a businessman from Delhi. Gupta allegedly referred to himself in electronic communications as an “international narcotics and weapons trafficker,” according to U.S. prosecutors.
Gupta was arrested in June 2023 in the Czech Republic and subsequently extradited to New York. Gupta was charged in November 2023 by the U.S. Department of Justice.
FBI says Nikhil Gupta played a central role
The FBI has labeled Gupta as one of the main players in the assassination plot. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky stated Gupta was a “key participant” in the conspiracy to assassinate Pannun, which was thwarted by U.S. agencies.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed the news through a post on X, “Following an investigation by FBI New York, and US Attorney SDNY, Nikhil Gupta pled guilty to plotting to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.”
#DEANortheast Regional Associate Chief of Operations Frank Tarentino issues statement on the Guilty Plea of Nikhil Gupta; thanks to the great work of the #DEANYTFD, who foiled this murder-for-hire plot. @NYPDnews @nyspolice @DEAHQ @SDNYnews @TheJusticeDept https://t.co/7uX2L5Crbw pic.twitter.com/8M7dovcUtP
— DEANewYork (@DEANEWYORKDiv) February 13, 2026
Prosecutors outline charges and court proceedings
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York also released a detailed statement explaining the charges and the legal process, “… NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a “Nick,” an Indian national, pled guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder a U.S. citizen in New York City. GUPTA pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn and is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29, 2026,”
“… NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a “Nick,” an Indian national, pled guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts… pic.twitter.com/AUOc1HCnTP
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2026
How The Plot was Unfolded?
According to prosecutors, Gupta was hired in May 2023 by a person named Vikash Yadav. The two are said to have met in Delhi, where they planned the assassination of Pannun.
According to court documents, Gupta was instructed by Yadav to carry out the assassination in New York. Gupta then hired a person who introduced him to a supposed professional assassin. Later, it was revealed by investigators that the assassin was actually an undercover officer from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to prosecutors, Yadav had access to classified information about the target, including Pannun’s New York address and phone numbers, which he provided to Gupta, who in turn provided them to the undercover agent. Yadav is alleged to be an Indian government employee.
India denies any involvement
However, India has refuted any kind of state involvement in the assassination plot. The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the allegations are “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.”
But at the same time, New Delhi has assured Washington of its cooperation. In November last year, the Indian government formed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the security concerns raised by the U.S. government.
