U.S. Charges Indian Government Official for His Involvement in the New York Assassination Attempt

               On October 17, 2024, the Justice Department announced the official charges against Vikash Yadav, an Indian government employee who remains at large, for his role in plotting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen. Yadav was charged in a second superseding indictment for the Southern District of New York while his alleged co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, was extradited to the U.S. on charges contained in the first indictment.[1] According to Anne Milgram, the administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, “We charge that Yadav, an employee of the Indian government, used his position of authority and access to confidential information to direct the attempted assassination of an outspoken critic of the Indian government here on U.S. soil.”^[2] Additionally, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that, “The Justice Department will be relentless in holding accountable any person – regardless of their position or proximity to power – who seeks to harm and silence American citizens.”[3]