US federal prosecutors have charged Vikash Yadav, an Ex-Indian intelligence officer for allegedly orchestrating a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District, New York announced on Thursday that it has filed ‘murder-for-hire and money laundering charges’ against Yadav.
Who Is Vikas Yadav?
Reports stated that Vikas Yadav, 39, was a Cabinet Secretariat that oversees the Research and Analysis Wing or RAW (India’s foreign intelligence service). Yadav is believed to have left government service and is charged with three counts, including murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Justice Department alleged, “He remains at large.”
Co-Conspirator Arrested
Yadav’s co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, was arrested last year in Czechoslovakia and is now in a U.S. jail after extradition.
In a statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the agency will not tolerate violence or retaliatory acts against those residing in the US, exercising their constitutionally protected rights.
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Indictment Of Yadav
An indictment of Yadav was ordered to be unsealed on Thursday which described Khalistani Separatist Pannun as a critic of the Indian government, an advocate for a separate Sikh homeland, and a political activist. The indictment alleged Yadav to be an employee of the Indian government at the time, who worked with agents in India and abroad to hatch a murder plot against Pannun at the beginning of May 2023.
The FBI issued a ‘wanted’ poster with three pictures of Yadav. According to the FBI, a federal warrant of arrest was also issued against him on October 10.
Ex-RAW official declared wanted by FBI in Gurpatwant Pannun case. pic.twitter.com/LQc4FNJ4v8
— Parteek Singh Mahal (@parteekmahal) October 18, 2024
What Did Pannun Say?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun welcomed the indictment of Vikash Yadav in a statement on Thursday, describing him as a ‘mid-tier soldier.’ He said that Yadav was assigned by Ajit Doval (Indian National Security Adviser) and Samant Goel (Former RAW Chief) as part of PM Modi’s efforts to dismantle Sikh separatism.
Indian Government Denies Its Involvement
Reacting to US allegations, India told the state dept. on Wednesday that “the person named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government.”
