US charges Indian man in alleged plot to assassinate Sikh leader

The United States has charged an Indian man over an alleged plot to assassinate an Indian-origin American citizen who advocates for a separate Sikh state.

The indictment filed by the United States in the New York district states that Nikhil Gupta has been charged with 'murder-for-hire' with the prosecutors saying he was being directed by an employee of the Indian govt.

'Murder-for-hire' charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The indictment has not named the US citizen but The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.