The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged an Indian national for his involvement in a plot to murder a US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

“Today in the Southern District of New York, a superseding indictment was unsealed alleging murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City,” an official press release on Wednesday said.

According to the DoJ release, “Earlier this year, an Indian government employee, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.”

The name of this government employee has thus far not been disclosed and he is referred to in the DoJ release as “CC-1”. Gupta is allegedly an associate of CC-1, the DoJ said.

“CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a ‘Senior Field Officer’ with responsibilities in ‘Security Management’ and ‘Intelligence,’ and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving ‘officer training’ in ‘battle-craft’ and ‘weapons’,” the DoJ statement said.