Indian National Busted in Murder-for-Hire Plot Targeting NYC Sikh Activist
Shockwaves hit New York as Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, reveals murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta. Gupta allegedly plotted the assassination of a prominent Sikh separatist advocate living in the Big Apple.
Sinister Spy Conspiracy Uncovered
The explosive Superseding Indictment, unsealed in Manhattan federal court, exposes a deadly scheme masterminded by an Indian government employee known only as “CC-1.” This agent allegedly used Gupta to target an attorney and political activist championing a sovereign Sikh state from his NYC base.
Gupta, currently in India, is accused of colluding with CC-1—who reportedly works within security and intelligence agencies—to execute the hit. The victim is not just a vocal critic of the Indian government but leads a US-based group fighting for Punjab’s independence.
DEA Sting Nabbed the Plot
- CC-1 enlisted a confidential source, cooperating with the DEA, to arrange the assassination via a fake hitman.
- Gupta passed on intimate details about the victim’s home, phone numbers, and daily routine to the “hitman,” unaware it was an undercover officer.
- CC-1 agreed to pay $100,000 for the murder, handing over $15,000 upfront in Manhattan to seal the deal.
Gupta urged the “hitman” to strike swiftly but cleverly avoid high-profile US-India diplomatic events. Surveillance photos and constant updates on the victim’s movements were shared.
Plot Thickens After Another Key Sikh Leader’s Murder
Gupta ominously revealed that Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a fellow Sikh separatist leader and ally of the victim, was also marked for assassination. After Nijjar’s real murder in British Columbia in June 2023, Gupta told the undercover officer there was “now no need to wait” to kill the main target.
Gupta now faces murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges, each carrying up to 10 years behind bars. The case shines a brutal spotlight on alleged foreign government interference and deadly plots on US soil.
