India has arrested an individual identified as “CC1,” who is linked to a thwarted assassination plot targeting a U.S. citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Indian government has communicated this arrest to the U.S., confirming that “CC1” is no longer a government official. This development was revealed to the media by U.S. officials and highlights India’s proactive response to a case that has garnered significant attention on both sides.
The individual, referred to as “CC1” in an indictment issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), was implicated in orchestrating an assassination attempt on an American citizen on U.S. soil. This plot involved the targeting of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist in India, who also holds American citizenship. The assassination was planned to take place in New York in June 2023 but was foiled before any harm could be done. A U.S. official confirmed that India has taken the allegations seriously and has acted swiftly in response.
In addition to the arrest of CC1, India has formed a high-level inquiry committee to further investigate the individual’s connections and other possible linkages related to the plot. The committee’s ongoing efforts to unearth additional information have led to further collaboration between India and the U.S. As part of this cooperation, members of the inquiry committee are scheduled to travel to Washington D.C. for meetings with American officials. These discussions will allow both parties to share findings, gain further insights into the U.S. investigation, and ensure transparency between the two nations regarding this sensitive case.
The news of the inquiry committee’s travel was first disclosed in a U.S. State Department press release, which was published briefly before being removed from their website. The statement was never republished, and its removal has added an element of intrigue to the situation. However, the U.S. has reiterated its support for India’s actions, with officials expressing encouragement for the steps taken by Indian authorities.
In its indictment, the DOJ identified CC1 as a then-serving Indian government official, a revelation that has had serious implications. The Washington Post, in an earlier report from April 2023, identified CC1 as Vikram Yadav. Although CC1 was still in government service at the time of the alleged plot, the individual is no longer affiliated with the Indian government, a fact that has been acknowledged and appreciated by U.S. officials.
A senior U.S. official, who provided updates on the case, remarked that the arrest and inquiry committee demonstrated the “sustained engagement at the highest levels” between India and the U.S. Both nations are committed to ensuring accountability for the serious allegations raised in the indictment. This sentiment was echoed in ongoing diplomatic conversations, including frequent discussions between U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan and Indian NSA Ajit Doval, among other high-level officials from both countries.
The timing of India’s actions in arresting CC1 and dispatching the inquiry committee coincided with a significant diplomatic shift in another area of India’s foreign relations. On the same day, India downgraded its diplomatic ties with Canada, recalling its high commissioner from Ottawa and expelling six Canadian diplomats. These moves stemmed from the escalating tension between India and Canada following Canada’s public accusations against India in the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, a Canadian national and designated terrorist in India.
However, U.S. officials have emphasized that the timing of these events was purely coincidental, with no direct coordination between the cases. According to the U.S. official, the inquiry committee’s visit to Washington had been planned in advance and was unrelated to the developments involving Canada.
Furthermore, there has been no trilateral conversation between the U.S., Canada, and India on these issues. The inquiry committee’s meetings in D.C. are focused solely on the assassination plot involving a U.S. citizen and have no connection to the Canada-India diplomatic dispute.
The U.S. remains committed to pursuing accountability regarding the assassination plot and ensuring that justice is served. Despite the sensitive nature of the case, the U.S. is also intent on continuing its collaboration with India on this matter. The State Department’s original statement on the inquiry committee’s visit, though brief, offered some insight into the situation. It highlighted that the committee was established to investigate organized criminal activities and that its members were set to travel to Washington to discuss the case and share information with U.S. authorities.
The case in question is linked to an elaborate conspiracy, as outlined in the DOJ indictment. The plot involved a middleman, Nikhil Gupta, who allegedly acted on behalf of CC1 to arrange the assassination. Gupta was arrested in Prague in 2023 and extradited to the U.S., where he now faces trial. The hired assassin, however, turned out to be an undercover U.S. law enforcement officer, thus preventing the plot from being carried out. When the details of the case came to light, the U.S. immediately demanded accountability from India.
In response, India denied any official involvement in the plot, stating that it was not part of government policy. However, India also took swift action by forming an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations in collaboration with the U.S.
The legal ramifications of the case have extended beyond criminal proceedings. In September 2023, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun filed a lawsuit in New York against the Indian government, Indian NSA Ajit Doval, and the former head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Samant Goel. As is customary in cases of this nature, a New York court issued summons against the named individuals, drawing further attention to the case. Doval’s absence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the U.S. last month was widely attributed to this controversy and the legal summons issued in New York.
The manner in which the U.S. and India have handled the allegations stands in stark contrast to Canada’s approach in dealing with similar accusations. In the case of Canada’s public accusations against India, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chose to disclose the allegations on the floor of the Canadian parliament, rather than handling the matter discreetly through diplomatic channels. Furthermore, Canada has not yet provided India with any concrete evidence to support its claims, despite over a year having passed since the accusations were first raised.
In contrast, U.S. officials worked closely with their Indian counterparts in private, sharing specific inputs and evidence over several months before the story became public in late 2023. The DOJ issued its indictment only after this period of careful investigation, allowing both sides to coordinate their responses. High-level diplomatic engagement between India and the U.S. has continued uninterrupted, despite the seriousness of the allegations. Both countries have shown a commitment to handling the matter through proper legal and law enforcement channels.
India’s public acknowledgement of the U.S. inputs, its formation of the inquiry committee, and its subsequent actions against CC1 have demonstrated a level of transparency and accountability that has helped maintain strong diplomatic ties between the two nations. As the investigation continues, both India and the U.S. are working together to ensure that those responsible for the assassination plot are held accountable, while safeguarding their broader bilateral relationship.
The inquiry committee’s visit to Washington and CC1’s arrest signify important milestones in the ongoing efforts to address the assassination plot case. These developments, along with the continued diplomatic and law enforcement collaboration between India and the U.S., underscore the seriousness with which both countries are approaching this sensitive issue.