New York (Agencies): In a significant legal development, Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has been summoned by a US court following a lawsuit filed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Pannun’s lawsuit alleges an assassination attempt on him orchestrated by the Indian government.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, names several high-ranking Indian officials, including former R&AW chief Samant Goel and senior R&AW officer Vikram Yadav. It also includes Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national currently incarcerated in New York on charges of conspiracy and murder-for-hire.
Pannun, a US-Canadian dual citizen, claims that the plot to assassinate him was foiled by US authorities last year. The lawsuit seeks damages for assault and emotional distress, alleging that Indian intelligence agents were behind the plot.
India has dismissed the allegations as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the claims do not change India’s stance on the underlying situation and emphasized that SFJ is an unlawful organization under Indian law.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between pro-Khalistan activists and the Indian government, with potential implications for diplomatic relations between India and the United States.