India, Feb. 14 -- The US federal court on Friday termed Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, as a 'key participant' in a murder-for-hire plot in the foiled assassination attempt against Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2023.

"Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for-hire plot against a U.S. citizen, a murder that was prevented thanks to the actions of U.S. law enforcement," FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky said.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the US in June 2024. Since then, he has been in custody of US authorities in Brooklyn without bail.

"This case is a stark reminder of the ruthless lengths criminals will go to in order to further their illegal enterprises," Drug En...