The ‘Hitman’ Confesses! Inside the Deadly Plot to Silencing a U.S. Citizen That Just Exposed a Global Spy Scandal!

On February 13, 2026, the international legal landscape shifted significantly as Nikhil Gupta, a 54-year-old Indian national, entered a guilty plea in a Manhattan federal court. His admission of guilt brings a swift conclusion to a case that has strained diplomatic ties between the U.S. and India for nearly three years.

Who is Nikhil Gupta?

Nikhil Gupta, often referred to in court documents by the alias “Nick,” is an Indian citizen and former resident of India who was extradited to the United States in June 2024.

• Background and Allegations: According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Gupta described himself in intercepted communications as an international narcotics and weapons trafficker.
• The Recruitment: Prosecutors allege that in May 2023, Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee, identified as Vikash Yadav, to orchestrate the assassination of a U.S.-based leader of the Sikh separatist movement.
• The Operation: Acting as a middleman, Gupta contacted an individual he believed was a criminal associate to arrange a hitman. This “associate” was actually a confidential source for the DEA, who introduced Gupta to an undercover officer posing as a contract killer.+1

Breakdown of Legal Charges

In his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, Gupta pleaded guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment. Below is a breakdown of the specific charges and their legal weight:

1. Murder-for-Hire

• The Admission: Gupta admitted to the physical act of arranging a murder in exchange for payment. This included facilitating the delivery of a $15,000 cash advance to the undercover agent in Manhattan.
• Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison.

2. Conspiracy to Commit Murder-for-Hire

• The Admission: This charge focuses on the agreement made between Gupta and his co-conspirators (including Vikash Yadav) to carry out the killing. Gupta admitted to passing along the victim’s home address, phone numbers, and daily surveillance photos to the purported hitman.
• Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison.

3. Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

• The Admission: Gupta admitted to conspiring to move funds across international borders specifically to finance a criminal act (the assassination). The total agreed-upon price for the murder was $100,000.
• Maximum Penalty: 20 years in prison.

Sentencing and Future Outlook

While the combined maximum sentence for these charges is 40 years, the actual time served will be determined by a federal judge.

• Sentencing Date: U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero is scheduled to sentence Gupta on May 29, 2026.
• Prosecution’s Recommendation: Reports indicate that while Gupta faced up to 40 years, the U.S. government may recommend a sentence in the range of 21 to 24 years following his decision to plead guilty and avoid a trial.
• The “Rogue Agent” Status: The Indian government has officially dissociated itself from the plot, stating that such actions are contrary to state policy. However, the U.S. government maintains that Gupta acted “at the direction and coordination” of an Indian official.

This plea effectively converts the case from a “he-said, she-said” international dispute into a documented criminal conviction, providing a legal finality to the 2023 plot.

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Here is a summary of the responses and the current diplomatic landscape:

1. The United States: A Message of Deterrence

The U.S. response, led by the Department of Justice and the FBI, has been firm and unwavering. The focus is on “transnational repression”—the idea that foreign governments cannot use proxies to silence critics on American soil.

• U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton: In a pointed statement, Clayton emphasized that no “nefarious foreign actor” should believe they can strike at American citizens for exercising their right to free speech.
• FBI & DEA: Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. explicitly named the involvement of an Indian government employee (Vikash Yadav), stating that the FBI would “aggressively defend the homeland against any foreign adversaries.”
• The State Department: While maintaining a strategic partnership with India, the State Department has reiterated that accountability is non-negotiable. However, they have also signaled a desire to keep the relationship stable, noting that there is no evidence suggesting Prime Minister Modi or the senior-most Indian leadership was aware of the plot.

2. India: The “Rogue Agent” Defense

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs have maintained a consistent, albeit difficult, stance of dissociation.

• Official Dissociation: The MEA has reiterated that the plot was “contrary to government policy.” They have distanced the state from Nikhil Gupta, framing him as a person with “criminal antecedents” who was not a state actor.
• The Status of Vikash Yadav: Following Gupta’s plea, Indian sources confirmed that Vikash Yadav (the alleged handler) is no longer an employee of the Government of India.
• High-Level Inquiry: The Indian government pointed to its own internal high-level inquiry committee, which reportedly finished its probe in early 2025. The committee’s findings suggested that an individual (Yadav) had acted outside his mandate and had “criminal links” that were being investigated domestically.
• Silent on Extradition: As of today, New Delhi has remained silent on the possibility of extraditing Vikash Yadav to the U.S. to face charges alongside Gupta.

3. The “Trump-Modi” Factor in 2026

The diplomatic tension is being balanced by a shift in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration.

• Strategic Alliance: Despite the Gupta plea, President Trump recently referred to Prime Minister Modi as one of his “greatest friends” on social media.
• Economic Trade-Offs: Earlier this month, the two leaders reportedly discussed a “deal” where India would move away from Russian oil in exchange for favorable U.S. trade tariffs.
• The Outcome: Analysts believe both nations are working to treat the Nikhil Gupta case as a legal technicality rather than a diplomatic dealbreaker. The U.S. gets its “justice” through Gupta’s conviction, and India gets to keep its high-level diplomatic ties intact by framing the incident as a localized, rogue intelligence failure.

Country	Focus of Response	Primary Goal
United States	Sovereignty and Freedom of Speech	Deterring foreign assassination attempts.
India	Internal Investigation and Denial	Protecting state image and maintaining the U.S. alliance.

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Summary of Pannun’s Stance: | Category | Response | | :— | :— | | View of Gupta | A “low-level operative” or “foot soldier.” | | Primary Target | The Indian Government and specifically Vikash Yadav. | | Personal Status | Unfazed; claims he will continue his activism despite the threat. | | Legal Goal | Full prosecution of the “higher-ups” involved in the conspiracy. |

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