Washington, DC [US], October 23: The US has reported "valuable engagement" with India's inquiry committee last week, noting that information was shared between the two governments to advance their investigations into the alleged foiled assassination plot against US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
During a media briefing on Tuesday (local time), US Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that the Indian inquiry committee is expected to continue its investigation, with further actions anticipated based on the discussions held between officials from both nations last week.
When asked about the US government's message to India regarding the alleged plot, Patel responded, "To take a step back, there was valuable engagement with India's inquiry committee last week, and information was exchanged between our two governments to further our respective investigations. We understand that the Indian inquiry committee will continue its investigation, and we expect to see further steps based on last week's conversations."
He added, "We continue to expect and want to see accountability based on the results of that investigation, and certainly the United States won't be fully satisfied until there is meaningful accountability resulting from that investigation. Beyond that, I'm just not going to address this in further detail given that this is an active issue under investigation in both our countries."
The Indian inquiry committee visited the United States to investigate the alleged involvement of a former Indian government official in the foiled plot to assassinate a US national, according to the US Department of State.
Pannun is designated as a terrorist by India and holds both American and Canadian citizenship. In November, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged role in the thwarted plot against Pannun.
India formed a high-level inquiry committee in November last year to address security concerns raised by the US government. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India takes such inputs seriously, as they affect national security interests, and relevant departments are already examining the matter.
Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, is accused of involvement in the alleged assassination plot against the designated pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic to the US in June, where he pleaded not guilty.
On October 17, the US Justice Department announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Vikash Yadav, a former Indian government employee, for his alleged role in orchestrating the foiled plot against Pannun.
The US Justice Department stated, "Yadav is charged in a second superseding indictment unsealed today in the US 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 Justice Department clarified that "an indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
Meanwhile, the MEA confirmed that the individual named in the US Justice Department's indictment regarding the foiled plot against Pannun is no longer employed by the Government of India.
"The US State Department informed us that the individual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India. I confirm that he is no longer an employee of the Government of India," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a press conference.
