Gupta sentencing deferred in Pannun plot

A US federal court has deferred the sentencing of Nikhil Gupta, who pleaded guilty to plotting the assassination of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to November 20. The sentencing was originally scheduled for September 25 before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The delay was granted after the intended victim, identified by Pannun's counsel as Pannun himself, requested to participate in the sentencing. Judge Victor Marrero rescheduled the hearing to November 20 at 10 am. Gupta pleaded guilty on February 13 to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to 10 years for each murder-for-hire charge and up to 20 years for money laundering. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the US a year later. US prosecutors allege Gupta arranged to pay $100,000 to a hitman, who was actually an undercover federal agent, to kill Pannun, and that the plot was directed by Indian government official Vikash Yadav.