Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty on Friday in a high-profile U.S. murder-for-hire case, after a federal court order detailed allegations that he helped coordinate a plot to kill a U.S.-based Sikh separatist leader- Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The guilty plea came as part of proceedings in the Southern District of New York, where prosecutors said Gupta played a key role in arranging an assassination attempt that was later foiled by law enforcement.

Why did he plead guilty?

According to U.S. prosecutors, Gupta admitted to involvement in: Planning a murder-for-hire operation, coordinating payments and logistics, acting as a middleman in the alleged assassination plot.

Authorities say undercover agents posed as hitmen during the investigation, eventually preventing the planned attack.

Who is Nikhil Gupta?

Gupta, 54, is an Indian citizen who, according to U.S. investigators, described himself as an international narcotics and weapons trafficker in communications.

He was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 before being extradited to the United States in 2024.

Charges and possible punishment

Gupta pleaded guilty to three federal charges, including murder-for-hire conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The charges carry prison sentences, though the final punishment will be decided by the court during sentencing.