Wed Jan 15 13:08:33 UTC 2025: ## Former Indian Intelligence Officer Faces Legal Action Over Alleged Assassination Plot

**New Delhi, India** – The Indian government is taking legal action against a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, Vikash Yadav, following a committee’s recommendation. Yadav, identified as “CC1” in a New York indictment, is accused of orchestrating a failed plot to assassinate Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and dual US-Canadian citizen.

A Union government inquiry committee investigated Yadav’s alleged links to the drug mafia and criminal gangs following the surfacing of the assassination plot in 2023. The committee’s report, submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), recommends swift legal action against Yadav, citing his previous criminal history uncovered during the investigation. The MHA statement emphasizes the need for expeditious legal proceedings.

The investigation involved cooperation with US authorities, including the FBI, who identified Yadav as “CC1.” The committee conducted its own investigations, pursued leads from the US, and exchanged visits with US officials. They examined officials from various Indian agencies and scrutinized relevant documents.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York had previously charged Yadav with murder-for-hire and money laundering. The charges stem from an alleged attempt to hire Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, to kill Pannun for $100,000. Gupta was arrested in Prague and extradited to the US, where he pleaded not guilty. The FBI revealed the intended assassin was an undercover informant.

Beyond recommending legal action against Yadav, the committee also suggested improvements to India’s systems and procedures to strengthen its response capabilities and ensure coordinated action in similar future incidents. The FBI, in a previous statement, asserted its commitment to preventing violence against individuals exercising their constitutional rights in the US.

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