The Indian government has dismissed a US court’s summons over a civil suit filed by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as “completely unwarranted.” The lawsuit, alleging a plot to murder Pannun, was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The summons names the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, seeking a response within 21 days.
Addressing the matter in a news briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that action was taken when these issues first surfaced. He termed the case as “completely unwarranted” and pointed to Pannun’s background, stating, “I invite your attention to the person who filed this.” Misri further described Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a figure from an unlawful organization, known for incendiary rhetoric against Indian institutions. Pannun heads the radical group Sikhs for Justice and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government in 2020.
The controversy escalated in November when the Financial Times reported that the US had thwarted a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada. This report was later confirmed by officials from the Joe Biden administration.
In its initial response, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the case, with then-spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stating that the allegations against Indian officials were “contrary to government policy.” A high-level committee in India has been engaged to investigate the matter further.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar emphasized in May that the issue would not affect the positive trajectory of India-US relations. “The United States brought to our attention certain information in good faith because we also believe some of it has implications for our own system,” he stated in an interview with PTI. “We are investigating it. But I do not think the fundamental course of the upward trajectory of India-US is impacted by this at all.”
Similarly, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, confirmed to NDTV that this matter would not impact the robust ties between India and the United States.
