Centre Trashes US Court Summons Over Murder Plot on Khalistani Terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun

New Delhi: The Centre has strongly criticised a US court’s decision to issue summons to the Indian government and senior officials over an alleged murder plot targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Responding to the summons, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “As we’ve mentioned earlier, these allegations are completely baseless and unwarranted. This case does not change our stance on the matter. I would draw attention to the individual behind this case, whose background is widely known.”

Misri further noted that the organisation Pannun represents, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is banned in India under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) of 1967 for engaging in activities that threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Earlier, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York named the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel, along with Nikhil Gupta and Vikram Yadav, who have been implicated in the case.

Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic last year on US charges related to the murder attempt on Pannun in New York and was extradited to the US in June 2024. In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that R&AW officer Vikram Yadav was behind the plot, with former R&AW chief Samant Goel allegedly approving the operation.

The Indian government has repeatedly denied these allegations, calling them “unsubstantiated” and dismissing claims of involvement in the plot.

Pannun, a US and Canadian dual citizen is wanted in India on terror-related charges and has been designated a terrorist under the UAPA.