The United States Department of State has officially served summons to the Government of India through established diplomatic channels. The move comes in connection with a civil lawsuit initiated by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistan separatist who has been designated a terrorist in India. The lawsuit centers on allegations regarding a failed plot to assassinate the separatist leader on American soil.
In a formal clarification regarding the development, the US State Department stated that it was legally obligated to facilitate the service of the summons. The department further emphasized that it does not hold a position on the merits or the nature of the case, framing the action as a procedural necessity within the US judicial system.
The current legal proceedings follow a decision by a court in New York, which previously permitted Pannun to serve his civil lawsuit against Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel. Under the court's authorization, these summonses were to be served through judicial channels in Delhi.
The underlying litigation is closely linked to a separate murder-for-hire investigation conducted by the US Department of Justice. In that criminal case, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in 2023. According to federal authorities in Manhattan, Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026 to charges including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and money laundering. He faces a potential statutory penalty of up to 40 years in prison.
Court filings from the criminal investigation allege that Gupta, identified as a drug smuggler, was recruited in May 2023 by Vikash Yadav, an officer with India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to execute the assassination. The case has become a significant point of scrutiny, as it alleges a direct state-sanctioned plot against an activist residing in the United States.
Beyond the ongoing court battles, Pannun—who serves as general counsel for the group Sikhs for Justice, an organization banned in India as an unlawful association—has reported continued security concerns. In August, he claimed that he was issued a warning by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding a new credible threat to his life. He noted that he was advised by agents to notify the agency before any travel.
Furthermore, Pannun stated that he received a similar warning via telephone from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He asserted that these warnings were issued in accordance with the US “Duty to Warn” law, which mandates that intelligence and law enforcement agencies notify individuals when they uncover specific threats of kidnapping, severe bodily harm, or murder. Neither the FBI nor the Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided specific details regarding the nature of these alleged threats at the time.
As the civil lawsuit moves through the legal process, the serving of these summonses marks a notable advancement in the case. The Government of India has consistently maintained its stance regarding such allegations as the matter continues to intersect with broader diplomatic and judicial considerations between the two nations.
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