'Unwarranted, unsubstantiated': India reacts strongly to US court summons over pro-Khalistani terrorist Pannun's lawsuit over 'assassination bid'

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reacted sharply to a US court summoning the Centre's top officials following a civil lawsuit filed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice.

India-designated terrorist Pannun has claimed that there was a conspiracy orchestrated by Indian officials to assassinate him, which he alleges was thwarted when the hired hitmen turned out to be undercover US agents.

Read Also: Pannun files civil lawsuit in US against GOI, Doval and others, seeks damages

Reacting to the summons, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said: "As we have said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this particular case has been lodged. It doesn't change our views about the underlying situation."

"I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known. I would also underline the fact that the organisation so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," Misri said during a press interaction.

When asked if the Khalistan issue will be discussed during PM Modi's visit to the US from September 21-23, Misri said: "As we have said earlier, whatever issues are of mutual concern between India and America, we discuss them all. Whether any specific issue will be raised or not, I cannot say at this time, but I can definitely say that we will discuss all the issues."

US court summons

The summons, issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, names several high-ranking Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel, and R&AW agent Vikram Yadav.

It also names Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national incarcerated in a New York jail after being charged with murder for hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy for allegedly contracting hitmen to murder Pannun.

The civil case is also against other "possible defendants whose identity is currently unknown".

The pro-Khalistani terrorist is seeking financial compensation for assault and emotional distress, asserting that his life remains in jeopardy due to these alleged assassination attempts.

Pannun's claims are particularly contentious given that he is designated as a terrorist in India and has been linked to various activities promoting Khalistani separatism. His lawsuit references past incidents, including the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani leader, in Canada.

What the lawsuit says

The lawsuit alleges that Yadav, directed by R&AW, recruited Gupta to hire hitmen to murder Pannun, and that the murder plot was approved by Goel and Doval.

However, it was foiled as the hitmen were undercover US law enforcement agents.

The complaint alleges that PM Modi knew about the murder plot but states that he is not named in the lawsuit as he has immunity as head of a foreign state.

In the complaint, Pannun claims that it was not a "rogue operative" behind the plot and alleges that "India has been traced to over 20 recent international murders carried out by R&AW".

"This lawsuit seeks to hold the GOI and a number of high-ranking officials there accountable under US tort law," said Pannun's counsel, Matthew Borden. "We aim to hold everyone involved in this plot accountable".

In the complaint Pannun alleges he is being targeted because he campaigns for the creation of Khalistan and is organising an unofficial Khalistan referendum.

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