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EYE ON INDIA JANUARY 24, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

THE PANNUN CASE

Twist in the tale as Indian

Govt blames an ‘individual’ for

the ‘murder conspiracy’

Following the threats issued by Pannun against Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra,

the MEA had emphasized India’s serious approach to such security threats

OUR BUREAU strengthen India’s response capabil-
ity, ensure systematic controls and
New Delhi/Washington, DC
coordinate action in dealing with
n a sensational development, a matters like this,” the statement said.
high-powered Enquiry Commit- Recently, following the threats
Itee set up by the government in issued by Gurpatwant Singh Pan-
the wake of information provided by nun against Indian Ambassador to
US authorities regarding activities the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, the
of some organized criminal groups, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
terrorist organizations which un- emphasized India’s serious approach
dermined security interests of both to such security threats. At a press
countries, has recommended action briefing in New Delhi, Jaiswal had
against an individual whose earlier said, “As in when such threats are
criminal links and antecedents also issued, we take the threats very se-
came to notice during the probe. riously and we raise it with the US
The Enquiry Committee also government.”
recommended that the legal action Earlier in October, the MEA
must be completed expeditiously. had confirmed that the individual
The Committee was set up in No- named in the US Justice Depart-
vember 2023 after the US authorities ment’s indictment case in a foiled
shared information about organized Members of JAGO party and Sikh Welfare Organization recently took out a protest march assassination plot against Pannun
criminal groups, terrorist organiza- was no longer an employee of the
tions, and drug peddlers undermining against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in front of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi (ANI) government of India. “The US State
the security interests of both nations. Department informed us that the in-
“After a long enquiry, the Com- the individual named in the US Jus- The Enquiry Committee empha- dividual in the Justice Department
mittee has submitted its report to tice Department’s indictment case sized that the legal process should be indictment is no longer employed by
the Government and recommend- in a foiled assassination plot was no concluded expeditiously to address India. I confirm that he is no longer
ed legal action against an individual, longer an employee of the govern- the security concerns effectively. an employee of the Government of
whose earlier criminal links and an- ment of India. In addition to the legal recom- India,” Jaiswal had said.
tecedents also came to notice during “The US State Department in- mendations, the Committee pro- The US Justice Department had
the enquiry. The Enquiry Committee formed us that the individual in the posed several systemic improve- claimed that an Indian government
has recommended that the legal ac- Justice Department indictment is no ments. These include enhancing employee (named CC-1), who was
tion must be completed expeditious- longer employed by India. I confirm existing systems and procedures, not identified in the indictment filed
ly,” a Home Ministry statement said. that he is no longer an employee of the strengthening India’s response ca- in a federal court in Manhattan, re-
The US Justice Department in Government of India,” MEA spokes- pabilities, and ensuring better coor- cruited an Indian national named
October 2024 announced the fil- person Randhir Jaiswal had said. dination and control in addressing Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to car-
ing of murder-for-hire and money The Enquiry Committee set up similar threats in the future. ry out the assassination of Pannun,
laundering charges against a former by the government conducted its own The recommendations aim to which was foiled by US authorities,
Indian government employee, Vi- investigations and also pursued leads reinforce India’s ability to counter according to prosecutors.
kash Yadav, in connection with his provided by the US side. It received organized criminal activities and According to the allegations
alleged role in directing a foiled plot full cooperation from US authorities safeguard national security through levelled earlier, the accused Nikhil
to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh and the two sides also exchanged vis- a more robust and coordinated ap- Gupta, is an associate of an employ-
Pannun, who is has dual citizenship its. The committee further examined proach. “The Committee has further ee of the Indian government and to-
of US and Canada. a number of officials from different recommended functional improve- gether they and others helped plot
The Ministry of External Affairs agencies and also scrutinized rele- ments in systems and procedures as the assassination of Pannun in New
in December last year had said that vant documents in this connection. also the initiation of steps that could York City.

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