Modi Govt admits ‘official’s’ involvement in murder of pro-Khalistani lawyer

Days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a statement acknowledging the involvement of a former Indian government official in an alleged assassination attempt on a pro-Khalistani lawyer in the US, without mentioning Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

This marks the first public admission by the Indian government regarding its role in the case, which has been a point of tension between India and the US.

The MHA statement, which was notably not issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or the National Security Council Secretariat, highlighted the findings of a high-powered government committee. The committee recommended legal action against an unnamed individual, hinting at systemic weaknesses within Indian intelligence agencies.

This individual is believed to have acted independently, with the MHA attempting to distance the government from his actions. The official in question, Vikash Yadav, a former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer, has been indicted by the US Department of Justice for allegedly orchestrating the plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistani campaigner based in New York.

The US Department of Justice charged Yadav in October, accusing him of directing the assassination plot from India. The indictment also suggested that this attempt was part of a broader plan involving multiple targeted killings across North America. Yadav, previously associated with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was identified as a key figure in this transnational repression effort.

In response to the US indictment, the Indian government established an inquiry committee in November 2023. The committee’s report submitted nearly 14 months later, pointed to the involvement of organized criminal groups and terrorist organizations, which posed threats to the security interests of both India and the US. The MHA's statement underscores the importance of improving systems and procedures to prevent such incidents in the future, reflecting on the weaknesses that allowed the rogue operation to occur.

The press release, however, did not explicitly name Yadav or confirm his current status within the government. Reports indicate that Indian officials travelled to the US in October 2024 to cooperate with the investigation. This move aligns with the US’s call for India to take the allegations seriously and cooperate with Canadian and American authorities. The US has emphasized the seriousness of the charges, urging India to engage constructively in the investigations.

The situation is further complicated by similar allegations from Canada. In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani activist in British Columbia. Despite Canada’s claims of sharing credible evidence with India, the Modi government has consistently denied any involvement. Canada has linked the Indian government with criminal networks, intensifying the diplomatic strain between the two nations.

The MHA’s statement makes no mention of the Pannun case or Nijjar’s murder in Canada, despite the links drawn by Canadian and US officials to the R&AW and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This omission indicates a strategic approach by the Indian government to manage the narrative and mitigate further international fallout.

Yadav's history, as outlined in the US indictment and subsequent reports, paints a picture of a lone-wolf operative exploiting gaps in India’s intelligence framework. His alleged criminal activities, including a reported abduction and extortion case in Delhi in December 2023, have added to the complexity of his profile. After being released on bail in April 2024, his whereabouts have remained unknown, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing investigation.

The timing of the MHA’s statement, just days before the Trump administration takes office, suggests a strategic move by India to reset relations with the US. By taking visible action against Yadav, the Indian government appears to be signalling its willingness to address the issue and cooperate with US authorities. This could potentially ease tensions and provide the incoming administration with a basis to argue against additional pressure on India.