The Indian government has expressed its strong disapproval of a US court issuing summons to Indian officials in connection with an alleged assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The summons implicates high-ranking Indian officials and members of the government in the alleged plot, which the Indian authorities vehemently deny.
In a formal statement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri firmly rejected the accusations brought against the Indian government and officials. Misri clarified that the government does not view the situation any differently despite the legal actions taken in the United States. “As we’ve said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations,” Misri stated. He continued, “Now that this particular case has been lodged, it doesn’t change our views about the underlying situation. I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known.”
Misri emphasized that the organization Pannun represents, Sikhs for Justice, has been outlawed in India due to its separatist agenda and activities aimed at destabilizing the country. “I would also underline the fact that the organisation so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967,” Misri explained. He further added that this designation was made “on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.”
The summons, issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, named several prominent Indian figures, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and former chief of India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Samant Goel. In addition to these officials, two other individuals, Nikhil Gupta and Vikram Yadav, have also been implicated in the case and served with summonses.
Nikhil Gupta, one of the accused, was arrested in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government. He is suspected of being involved in the plot to assassinate Pannun in New York. Following his arrest, Gupta was extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic in June 2023, where he now faces legal proceedings related to the alleged conspiracy.
Vikram Yadav, an officer working with R&AW, was also named in reports concerning the case. In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that Yadav was implicated as the key official behind the plot to assassinate Pannun. According to the report, then-R&AW chief Samant Goel had allegedly approved the operation. This revelation, which emerged through media sources, added significant weight to the US court’s decision to issue summons to Indian officials. However, the Indian government has continued to dismiss the accusations, labeling them as baseless and without merit.
The controversy surrounding Pannun’s assassination plot comes against the backdrop of Pannun’s status as a wanted figure in India. Pannun, a prominent voice in the Sikh separatist movement, holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Canada. He has been charged with terrorism-related offenses in India and has long been a subject of intense scrutiny by Indian authorities. Pannun’s involvement in advocating for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, has made him a controversial figure, not only in India but also within the broader Sikh diaspora.
Pannun’s terrorist designation in India is based on the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), one of India’s most stringent anti-terrorism laws. The Union Home Ministry of India officially labeled him a terrorist under this law, underscoring his perceived threat to Indian national security. The UAPA allows the Indian government to designate individuals and organizations as terrorists based on their involvement in activities deemed to be threatening to the sovereignty, security, and integrity of the nation.
India’s response to the US summons reflects its broader stance on international interference in what it considers to be its internal matters. Over the years, India has consistently maintained that the activities of pro-Khalistan groups like Sikhs for Justice pose a direct threat to its territorial integrity. Groups like SFJ have campaigned for an independent Sikh state, a movement that has been actively opposed by successive Indian governments. Despite being based largely outside of India, SFJ has garnered support among certain segments of the Sikh diaspora, particularly in countries like Canada, the UK, and the United States.
However, the group’s activities have faced significant opposition from within India and among large sections of the global Sikh community. Sikhs for Justice has been at the center of numerous controversies, with its leaders being accused of promoting terrorism and violence in pursuit of their separatist goals. The Indian government’s designation of SFJ as an unlawful organization under the UAPA in 2019 was part of a broader crackdown on pro-Khalistan movements, particularly those operating outside the country.
The allegations brought forth by the US court represent a diplomatic challenge for India, which has to balance maintaining strong ties with the United States while firmly rejecting any interference in its national security matters. The involvement of high-ranking Indian officials in the case adds a further layer of complexity, as it directly links the Indian state to the alleged plot. This comes at a time when India has been bolstering its diplomatic efforts on the global stage, particularly in terms of counter-terrorism and security collaborations with other nations, including the US.
Despite the US court’s legal move, the Indian government has shown no signs of altering its stance on the issue. In fact, the strong rebuttal from officials like Vikram Misri highlights India’s determination to protect its interests and resist any external pressures that may arise from the case. Misri’s remarks point to the Indian government’s firm belief that the allegations are part of a broader narrative aimed at discrediting India’s efforts to combat terrorism and separatism.
While the case progresses in the US legal system, it is unlikely to have an immediate impact on India’s domestic policies regarding groups like Sikhs for Justice. The Indian government remains steadfast in its position that such organizations are a threat to the country’s unity and sovereignty. As a result, the situation is likely to remain tense as India continues to navigate the complex international legal and diplomatic dimensions of the case.
The Indian government has strongly condemned the US court’s summons in connection with the alleged assassination plot on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Foreign Secretary Misri’s statements reflect India’s unyielding position on the matter, dismissing the charges as baseless and reaffirming its commitment to national security. As the legal proceedings unfold in the United States, the diplomatic implications for India and its relationships with international partners remain to be seen. However, India’s firm stance against pro-Khalistan groups like Sikhs for Justice is unlikely to waver, even in the face of international scrutiny.