News Brief

Pannun 'Killing' Plot: US Court Summons Indian Government, NSA Doval Over Civil Lawsuit Filed By The Khalistani Terrorist

Kuldeep Negi

Sep 19, 2024, 10:55 AM | Updated 10:55 AM IST


Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.

A US court has summoned the Indian government after Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun filed a lawsuit, accusing India of plotting his assassination.

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued the summons in the name of the Government of India, along with high-ranking Indian officials such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and businessman Nikhil Gupta.

Those named have been asked to respond to the summons within 21 days.

As of now, the Central government has not responsed to the summons.

Meanwhile, Pannun’s X account, where he had posted the copy of summons, has been withheld.

In November last year, UK-based newspaper Financial Times reported that the US authorities had successfully foiled an alleged assassination plot targeting Pannun, the leader of the radical Khalistani terror group Sikhs for Justice, who holds both US and Canadian citizenship.

This claim was later corroborated by officials within the Biden administration.

Reacting to the allegations, India’s Ministry of External Affairs termed it a “matter of concern” and said that a high-level probe had been initiated to look into the issue.

In May, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated that India is investigating the matter but emphasised that it would not impact the "upward trajectory" of India-US ties.

US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, had also said that this issue would not affect India-US ties.

Pannun, infamous for his inflammatory speeches and threats targeting Indian leaders and institutions, was officially declared a terrorist by India in 2020.

Also Read: Animal Fat Instead Of Ghee Was Used In Tirupati Laddus Under Jagan Government, Alleges Andhra CM Naidu; YSRCP Denies Claim

Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.


Get Swarajya in your inbox.


Magazine


image
States