Vikram Misri

Over the summoning of India’s top officials by a US court in the suit filed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a fugitive declared wanted in India, New Delhi maintained its rigid stance and described this notion as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations”.

Briefing the media, India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri reportedly stated, “As we have earlier said, these imputations are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated. Even now that this particular case has been lodged, it doesn’t change our views about this situation.”

In his address, Misri stressed the need to focus on “the individual behind the particular case whose antecedents are well known.” He also deemed the banned organisation run by Pannun, Sikhs for Justice, as unlawful and also highlighted that it has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967.

Pannun’s organisation has been involved in several pro-Khalistani anti-national and subversive activities “aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” said Misri.

US Court issues summons on Pannun’s lawsuit

It is noteworthy that Pannun filed a civil case that seeks financial compensation for the ‘assault’ and ‘emotional distress’ caused by the alleged assassination attempts.

Over this, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a summons order for several Indian diplomats, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and the jailed Indian national in the US Nikhil Gupta.

Notably, Gupta has been incarcerated in a New York jail over serious charges, which include murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy, allegedly for hiring contract hitmen to assassinate Pannun.

Pannun’s lawsuit states that R&AW recruited Gupta, who in turn hired hitmen, and plotted to assassinate Pannun, all under the aegis of Doval and former R&AW chief Goel.

The attempt, however, was thwarted after the hitmen turned out to be undercover US agents.

The suit goes on to state that the assassination attempt took place well under the cognisance of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but he has been exempted from being named over his immunity as head of a foreign state.

Pannun attributes these attempts to his ardency behind the Khalistan referendum, which bids for the creation of a separate nation.

Also read:

Pannun murder-plot: Nikhil Gupta in custody till June 28

India-US ties won’t be affected by Pannun case: US Ambassador Garcetti

PM Modi addresses Pannun's assassination plot allegation