Pannun files civil lawsuit in US, accuses Indian government and officials of assassination plot

• The lawsuit comes amid heightened tensions between pro-Khalistan activists and the Indian government, following the assassination of another prominent Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada in June 2023
• Pannun alleges that Yadav, after Nijjar’s murder, sent Gupta a video of Nijjar’s body and later provided Pannun’s home address, further intensifying the threat against his life

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice, has filed a civil lawsuit in the US federal district court against the Government of India (GOI), National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and several others. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks damages for an alleged assassination attempt targeting Pannun in June 2023, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

Pannun, a US-Canadian dual citizen, claims that Indian intelligence operatives conspired to assassinate him on American soil. The plot, which was allegedly directed by senior Indian officials including former R&AW chief Samant Goel and senior officer Vikram Yadav, was thwarted when undercover US law enforcement officers posed as hired hitmen. Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national now incarcerated in a New York jail, has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy. Pannun alleges that the plot was approved at the highest levels of Indian intelligence, with Doval and Goel overseeing the plan.

The civil lawsuit, which also includes “other possible defendants whose identity is currently unknown,” claims that Pannun has suffered both physical and emotional distress. He continues to assert that his life is in danger due to ongoing threats from the Indian government and its agents. Pannun’s attorneys argue that under US tort law, the defendants should be held accountable for the harm they have caused.

This civil case is separate from the criminal proceedings against Gupta, who is facing charges related to the murder-for-hire plot. Borden highlighted that the standard of proof is lower in civil cases than in criminal ones, allowing them to gather more extensive evidence through discovery

Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, has long been a controversial figure due to his advocacy for Khalistan, a separate Sikh state. His involvement in organizing an unofficial Khalistan referendum has made him a target, and he alleges that the assassination attempt is directly linked to his political activities.

The lawsuit also references remarks made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, where he stated, “New India enters into enemy homes and kills them.” While the complaint alleges Modi was aware of the plot, he is not named in the suit due to his immunity as a head of state.

Matthew Borden, Pannun’s legal counsel, emphasized that the civil lawsuit seeks financial compensation for the damages inflicted on his client, including security costs incurred as a result of the threats. Borden further explained that the US court has jurisdiction over the case under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, which allows for legal action against foreign states under specific conditions.

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