3 Reasons Why Nikhil Gupta Pleaded Guilty In Khalistani Pannun's Murder-For-Hire Case

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 13:03 IST

Gupta’s decision to plead guilty followed a prolonged legal ordeal, including his extradition from the Czech Republic in 2024 and months in custody in Brooklyn as he awaited trial

As Nikhil Gupta, who was accused of planning a failed murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, pleaded guilty, the dramatic courtroom U-turn raised one key question—why did the Indian national admit to the crime?

The high-profile case has pushed the United States to point a finger at India as officials claimed—without any proof—that Gupta followed the orders of an Indian government employee. Pleading guilty in a US federal court, admitted to three criminal charges—murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

But why exactly did Gupta plead guilty?

According to The Times of India, Gupta’s decision to plead guilty followed a prolonged legal ordeal, including his extradition from the Czech Republic in 2024 and months in custody in Brooklyn as he awaited trial.

Legal experts say pleading guilty can significantly reduce his potential prison sentence by earning him credit for “acceptance of responsibility" under US federal sentencing guidelines, potentially lowering exposure from a 40‑year maximum to a recommended 21-24 years. The TOI report also says Gupta’s admission avoids a high‑profile trial that would put the evidence, including intercepted communications and alleged negotiations for a $100,000 payment to a hitman, on full display in court.

However, sources in the family told The Indian Express that Gupta’s plea may have also been motivated by a desire to end the lengthy, emotionally and financially draining legal battle and to “take the blame" on himself rather than await a full trial and sentencing hearing.

“The family has been fighting this for so long. He would have sensed the toll it was taking on them and decided to put an end to it. He hasn’t turned approver or anything but has taken all the blame on himself, from what the family has been told by his lawyer," a source close to the family told The Indian Express.

In court, Gupta admitted his involvement during an appearance before a US magistrate judge, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026.

What Is The Case About?

The case revolves around a foiled assassination plot targeting Pannun, leader of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation, which advocates for Khalistan. Gupta was charged in the United States with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and related offenses. Prosecutors allege that Gupta was recruited and directed by associates with ties to India to plan and finance Pannun’s assassination in New York. The scheme reportedly involved arranging payments to a potential hitman and coordinating logistics to carry out the killing on US soil.

The US Justice Department case emphasises that the plot constituted a serious threat to public safety and violated multiple federal statutes, including murder-for-hire and money laundering, because funds were allegedly moved to facilitate the crime.

Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic in 2024 after being arrested there, and he faced months in US custody while awaiting trial. Instead of proceeding to a full trial, he pleaded guilty in early 2026, admitting his involvement in the plot.

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