NEW YORK (Diya TV) — A U.S. federal court has postponed the sentencing of Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty in a case involving an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Gupta’s sentencing will now take place Nov. 20, according to a court filing. The U.S. government asked the Southern District of New York to delay the hearing because Pannun wanted to attend and speak at the proceeding.
Prosecutors filed the request Aug. 3 before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. They said Pannun would be outside the United States on the previously scheduled date of Sept. 25. The government also said Gupta’s defense team did not oppose the delay.
Pannun could attend a hearing on or after Oct. 22. Therefore, prosecutors asked the court for a short postponement to protect his legal rights as a victim.
The court has since approved the request and moved Gupta’s sentencing to Nov. 20.
Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to three federal charges tied to the alleged murder-for-hire plot. Those charges include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The case centers on an alleged 2023 plan to arrange Pannun’s killing in the United States. Gupta admitted that he tried to contact a person he believed could carry out the assassination.
Pannun holds both U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Court filings do not identify the intended victim by name. However, Pannun’s legal team has publicly identified him as the target.
The case has drawn attention because it involves an alleged attempt to kill a prominent Sikh separatist on U.S. soil. It also comes amid wider tensions surrounding allegations of transnational violence against Sikh activists.
For now, Gupta remains at the center of the federal case.
