John Carlin, top DOJ official in both the Obama and Trump administrations, joins Preet to discuss a recent assassination plot on US soil involving an Indian national and the implications for US-India relations. They also explore the strength of the case, potential trial challenges, ongoing investigations, and the possibility of armed conflict between countries.
The assassination plots involving an Indian national and a Sikh leader in Canada have the potential to strain the relationship between India and the West, highlighting the need for deterrence and stronger collaborations between countries.
The indictment against Nikhil Gupta provides compelling evidence of his involvement in the murder-for-hire scheme, showcasing his desire to personally carry out the killing and emphasizing the gravity of the plot.
Deep dives
The Foiled Plot and its Implications
Last week, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York announced charges against an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, for directing a plot to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin. The plot was linked to another assassination in Canada of a Sikh leader who supported Sikh separatism. These plots have the potential to strain the relationship between India and the West, as they involve attempts to commit assassinations on US soil. The audacity and risks associated with these plots are remarkable, highlighting the need for deterrence and stronger collaborations between countries.
The Evidence and Seriousness of the Plot
The indictment provides compelling evidence of the plot's seriousness, including discussions, recordings, and photographs that demonstrate the defendant's involvement in the murder-for-hire scheme. The defendant, Nikhil Gupta, is accused of conspiring with an identified Indian government employee in orchestrating the assassination. The indictment also reveals that Gupta expressed a desire to personally carry out the killing and showcased a video clip of the bloodied body of the assassinated individual. The inclusion of such details in the indictment emphasizes the gravity of the plot.
Challenges and Considerations
While the indictments and arrests have disrupted these particular assassination attempts, the possibility of other plots remains. The case raises questions about the intelligence gathering process, the involvement of undercover agents, and potential classified information protection challenges during the trial. Additionally, the arrest and subsequent indictment have implications for diplomatic relations between the United States and India. It is crucial for both nations to navigate this situation carefully, upholding the rule of law while maintaining a delicate balance in maintaining their relationship.
Last week in New York, federal prosecutors announced murder-for-hire charges against an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who allegedly paid a DEA agent posing as a hitman to assassinate, on U.S. soil, a Sikh attorney and political activist, who is a U.S. citizen residing in NYC. The attempted killing comes just over two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of killing a Sikh leader in Vancouver.
Preet speaks with John Carlin, a top DOJ official in both the Obama and Biden administrations and a CAFE veteran, about the indictment and the foreign policy implications of the two plots.
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