The trial involving a man accused of orchestrating murder plots on behalf of the Indian government in New York has been postponed. Nikhil (Nick) Gupta, who faces charges of collaborating with Indian government officials and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) to plan the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist labeled a terrorist by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, was set to commence trial in New York City on Monday.
Court documents indicate that prosecutors intend to introduce new evidence, such as wiretaps and videos, related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Pannun’s Canadian associate, in Surrey, B.C., in 2023. By resurfacing the controversy surrounding India’s alleged involvement in Nijjar’s death and revealing new information implicating Indian authorities, the trial has the potential to complicate efforts to resolve the Nijjar issue and normalize diplomatic relations between India and Canada.
Gupta, who has expressed a desire to represent himself, requested a trial delay, citing dissatisfaction with his court-appointed attorney, Matthew Laroche. Gupta alleged that Laroche’s interactions with a U.S. attorney indicated a lack of zeal in defending the case. Accusing the lawyer of unprofessional behavior, Gupta claimed that Laroche failed to file a motion to dismiss charges on his behalf and falsely informed him that the judge had rejected it.
Following Gupta’s motion, the trial was postponed, and a new trial date will be determined during a pre-trial conference on Nov. 14. Although Gupta has been assigned a new public defender, David Touger, he persists in his desire to act as his own legal representative.
While Gupta is not directly implicated in the plot to kill Nijjar, U.S. prosecutors have signaled their intent to investigate the links between the alleged Pannun conspiracy and the group responsible for Nijjar’s murder in Surrey. The court filing implicates an unindicted co-conspirator, Vikash Yadav, a former R&AW agent in India, as a key figure connecting the two incidents.
U.S. prosecutors plan to present wiretapped conversations between Gupta and an individual he believed would aid in the assassination, as well as recordings of discussions between Gupta and an undercover agent posing as a contract killer. The Modi government has acknowledged Yadav’s involvement in the conspiracy but asserts that it did not extend to higher levels within the Indian government, portraying Yadav as a rogue operative. India denies any role in Nijjar’s killing, but evidence expected to be unveiled at trial is likely to challenge India’s efforts to keep these cases distinct.
Federal authorities claim to possess wiretap evidence showing Gupta revealing a recent video of Nijjar’s killing to an alleged hitman shortly after the incident and encouraging the hitman to proceed with targeting and eliminating Pannun in New York.