Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty to charges linked to the alleged plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, will now be sentenced in November

The sentencing of Indian national Nikhil Gupta in the US case involving an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has been postponed after prosecutors said Pannun wanted to attend the hearing.

A federal court in New York has moved Gupta’s sentencing from September 25 to November 20, 2026. Prosecutors requested the delay after saying the alleged victim wanted to attend the hearing and exercise his statutory right to be heard but would be outside the United States on the previously scheduled date.

Gupta’s defence team did not object to the postponement.

Why was Nikhil Gupta’s sentencing delayed?

In a court filing, US prosecutors said the victim wanted to participate in the sentencing proceedings. The government therefore asked for a brief adjournment to allow him to attend and address the court.

The court subsequently rescheduled the sentencing for November 20.

Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty in Pannun murder-for-hire case

Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026 to three federal charges arising from the alleged 2023 plot to kill Pannun in the United States.

The charges include murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry maximum prison terms of 10 years for the first two offences and 20 years for the money-laundering conspiracy.

US prosecutors allege that Gupta paid $15,000 to a person he believed was a professional hitman to arrange Pannun’s assassination. The person was actually cooperating with US authorities, and the alleged killing was prevented.

What does the US allege about the Pannun plot?

According to US prosecutors, Gupta was recruited in 2023 by an individual identified as Vikash Yadav, whom US authorities described as being employed by the Indian government.

Prosecutors allege that Yadav directed Gupta to arrange the killing of Pannun, a US citizen and prominent advocate of the Khalistan movement.

Gupta allegedly contacted an associate to find someone who could carry out the assassination. US authorities say the associate was an informant who connected Gupta with an undercover officer posing as a professional hitman.

Prosecutors alleged that Gupta agreed to pay $100,000 for the killing and provided $15,000 as an advance.

India has rejected allegations of involvement by its government in the plot.

Gupta was extradited to the US from Czech Republic

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the United States in 2024.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges before changing his plea in February 2026.

His guilty plea means the case will proceed directly to sentencing rather than a full criminal trial.

Case has strained India-US relations

The Pannun case has attracted significant diplomatic attention because of US allegations that an Indian government-linked official was involved in the alleged assassination plot.

The case has also been discussed alongside the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023. Canadian authorities have separately investigated alleged links between Indian officials and the Nijjar killing, allegations that India has rejected.

Gupta’s sentencing is now scheduled for November 20, with the hearing expected to draw continued attention in both the United States and India.