Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Pannun files lawsuit against Indian govt, NSA Ajit Doval in US court

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader and general counsel for the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice, has filed a civil lawsuit in a US federal district court against the Indian government, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and others.

The lawsuit — filed on Sep 17 — claims damages for an alleged assassination attempt against him that took place on US soil last year.

It also names former RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) chief Samant Goel, senior RAW officer Vikram Yadav, and Nikhil Gupta, who is an Indian national in a New York jail on murder-for-hire charges.

Last year in June, a murder plot to assassinate Pannun was thwarted. Pannun, a designated terrorist by India, who holds US-Canadian dual citizenship, has filed a civil lawsuit in the US district court aiming to hold the Indian government accountable for its alleged role in the assassination plots.

Pannun's lawyers have said that pursuing justice through criminal courts would be challenging, local media reported.

He is seeking financial compensation for the alleged attempt on his life and for causing extreme emotional distress. He also claims that his life remains under threat.

In June this year, the US extradited an Indian national identified as Nikhil Gupta, 53, from the Czech republic, accused of being an agent of the Indian government involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun.

The lawsuit alleges that Yadav recruited Gupta at the direction of RAW to arrange a murder plot on Pannun, which was approved by Goel and Doval.

The plot was foiled because the hitmen were undercover US agents.

Although the complaint suggests Indian Prime Minister Modi was aware of the plot, he is not named in the lawsuit because he has diplomatic immunity.

The Indian government has established a high-level inquiry committee to examine the allegations.

Meanwhile, the US recently extradited Nikhil Gupta, a 53-year-old Indian national who is accused of being an agent of India’s government involved in a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based Sikh separatist and lawyer.

Although the plot to kill Pannun was foiled, his associate Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was murdered in British Columbia, on June 18, 2023, prompting a public accusation of India’s involvement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and vigorous denials from India.