Foiled Murder-for-Hire Plot Strains US-India-Canada Relations
A murder-for-hire plot targeting a prominent Sikh American activist living in New York City, orchestrated by someone within India's government, was foiled by an elaborate sting operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The plot was uncovered after an informant working for the DEA received a tip from Nikhil Gupta, a resident of India known for his involvement in drug and weapons trafficking. Gupta had been recruited by an Indian government official to arrange the assassination. A DEA agent posed as a hitman, and Gupta provided information about the target's address and routine. However, the assassination could not take place during high-level visits between US and Indian officials, including President Biden and Prime Minister Modi, to avoid geopolitical fallout. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic and awaits extradition to the US. The Indian government denies involvement in the murder in Canada and has opened an investigation into organized criminals and terrorists.