Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026, in a Manhattan federal court. He admitted to three charges: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. These charges could lead to a combined sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Gupta appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. He has been in jail in Brooklyn since June 2024, after being extradited from the Czech Republic where he was arrested in 2023. He had initially pleaded not guilty after his extradition. US prosecutors say Gupta planned with an Indian government official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist who is a US resident and holds dual US-Canadian citizenship. India has denied any role in the alleged plot and distanced itself from such actions, calling them against government policy. This case is part of wider concerns over assassination plots against Sikh separatists in the US and Canada, which have caused tensions between India and these countries.