A 54-year-old Indian man has admitted guilt in a Manhattan federal court for his role in a failed assassination scheme targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a vocal Khalistani separatist and US resident. Nikhil Gupta's confession marks a pivotal moment in a case that has long fueled diplomatic friction between India and Western nations.

Gupta, extradited from the Czech Republic last year, initially denied involvement but changed his plea this week to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and money laundering. Prosecutors say the plot originated in 2023 when Gupta connected with an Indian government employee who allegedly tasked him with eliminating Pannun in New York City.

Posing as a hitman, Gupta offered $100,000 for the job, advancing $15,000 in cash to a supposed assassin—who turned out to be a DEA undercover agent. Federal authorities intervened swiftly, thwarting the attempt before it could unfold. Gupta now faces up to 40 years in prison, with sentencing set for May 29.

Pannun, a US-based lawyer leading the Sikhs for Justice group, campaigns aggressively for a sovereign Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland carved from India. India has labeled him a terrorist and sought his extradition over provocative videos threatening Indian assets, including Air India flights.

The case echoes broader concerns: Canada accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of another Khalistani figure, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, prompting joint US-Canada probes. While India distanced itself, blaming rogue elements, US officials framed Gupta's plot as "transnational repression" on American soil.

FBI leaders hailed the plea as a deterrent against foreign meddling, vowing to protect US residents from overseas threats. India maintains the episode involved unauthorized actions, not state policy, amid otherwise robust ties under President Trump's administration. As the Pannun case heads to sentencing, it underscores ongoing Khalistani activism's global ripple effects—from street protests to high-stakes espionage claims. Updates on Nikhil Gupta's fate and extradition talks will be closely watched.