The trial of a man accused of plotting assassinations for the Indian government in New York has been postponed. Nikhil (Nick) Gupta, an alleged drugs and arms smuggler, was scheduled to begin trial in New York City on Monday.
Gupta is facing charges of conspiring with Indian government officials and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) to plan the murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an activist declared a terrorist by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to introduce new evidence during the trial, including wiretaps and video related to the killing of Pannun’s associate, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, B.C., in 2023.
The trial’s focus on India’s alleged involvement in the Nijjar case and the presentation of new evidence against Indian officials could complicate efforts by both the Indian and Canadian governments to resolve the Nijjar issue and restore normal diplomatic relations.
Gupta requested the trial delay, expressing dissatisfaction with his court-appointed lawyer and insisting on representing himself. He accused his former attorney of unprofessional behavior and deception, leading to the appointment of a new public defender, David Touger. The trial has been rescheduled for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 14.
Although Gupta is not directly linked to the plot to assassinate Nijjar, U.S. prosecutors plan to explore the connections between the alleged Pannun conspiracy and the group responsible for Nijjar’s death. The court documents identify Vikash Yadav, an unindicted co-conspirator and former R&AW agent in India, as a key figure in the case.
Prosecutors intend to present wiretapped conversations between Gupta and a confidential informant, as well as recordings of discussions between Gupta and an undercover federal agent posing as a hitman. The evidence expected to be presented at trial contradicts India’s claims of Yadav being a rogue actor and denies involvement in the Nijjar killing.
Federal authorities have disclosed wiretap evidence showing Gupta sharing a video of Nijjar’s killing with a supposed hitman shortly after the incident, urging him to proceed with targeting and executing Pannun in New York.