US charges former Indian official in murder-for-hire plot

New Delhi, Oct 18: The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Vikash Yadav, a former employee of India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), with directing a plot to assassinate a U.S.-based Sikh separatist leader.

The Justice Department of the US on October 17, announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, 39, also known as Vikas, and Amanat, in connection with his role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.

Yadav is charged in a second superseding indictment unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Yadav’s alleged co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, 53, was previously charged and extradited to the United States on the charges contained in the first superseding indictment. Yadav remains at large.

The victim, a prominent lawyer and advocate for the Khalistan movement, has been outspoken in calling for the secession of Punjab from India to form an independent Sikh state. The Indian government has banned both the victim and his separatist organisation from entering the country, citing security concerns.

The U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, "The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to target and endanger Americans, regardless of their political stance or the threats they face from foreign powers." FBI Director Christopher Wray also emphasised the agency's commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all U.S. residents, no matter where the threat originates.

The plot, which involved recruiting a hitman through a supposed criminal associate who was a DEA confidential source, was thwarted before any harm could be done, said the Justice Department of the US.

According to the indictment, allegations are that Yadav used his government position and access to confidential information to gather sensitive details about the victim, including home addresses and daily activities, and relayed them to Gupta for the assassination as reported by the Justice department of US.

This incident gains further complexity when viewed against the backdrop of growing international tensions involving India’s handling of separatist movements. On June 18, 2023, masked gunmen assassinated Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan supporter, outside a Gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada. Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination—an allegation vehemently denied by New Delhi.

The Justice Department's indictment notes that following Nijjar’s assassination, Gupta, Yadav’s alleged co-conspirator, told an undercover DEA agent that Nijjar was "also a target." This suggests a broader and coordinated campaign targeting Sikh separatist leaders in North America, with both the U.S. and Canada witnessing a rise in tensions over accusations of Indian involvement in extraterritorial repression. India has vehemently and repeatedly denied it saying that not an iota of evidence is being given by Canada to New Delhi to substantiate the evidence.

Canada's accusations against India have added further strain to the traditionally strong relations between Ottawa and New Delhi. After Nijjar’s murder, Trudeau claimed that Canadian security agencies were investigating "credible allegations" of India's involvement. This has led to a diplomatic standoff, with India issuing retaliatory measures and both nations expelling diplomats.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division highlighted the seriousness of this emerging threat: "Today’s charges are a grave example of the increase in lethal plotting and other forms of violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the United States."

India’s Denial and Diplomatic Response

India has been quick to distance itself from Yadav following the unsealing of the indictment. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, clarified that Yadav was no longer an employee of the Indian government. “The individual named in the U.S. indictment is no longer employed by the Government of India,” Jaiswal stated during a press briefing yesterday. Reports suggest that Yadav has been arrested in India, but officials assert that the arrest was unrelated to the U.S. indictment or the unfolding diplomatic tensions with Canada.

The case remains under investigation by U.S. authorities, and Yadav remains at large, with an FBI alert issued for his capture.

As the U.S. proceeds with charges against Yadav and his co-conspirators, it sends a message: attempts to undermine the rights and safety of individuals on American soil, regardless of the political motivations behind them, will not be tolerated. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasised this point: “Let this case be a warning to all those who would seek to harm and silence U.S. citizens: we will hold you accountable, no matter who and where you are.”

As tensions between India, Canada, and the United States continue to simmer, this case has entered an interesting crossroads where the future relationship between the US and India may need further muscle to strengthen the trust deficit.