Washington, Feb 13 (NationPress) Indian national Nikhil Gupta formally admitted guilt on Friday in a federal court in New York, accepting responsibility for all three charges outlined in a superseding indictment related to a murder-for-hire conspiracy aimed at a Sikh separatist leader residing in the U.S. This development signifies a critical shift in a case poised for trial.

While appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York, Gupta pleaded guilty to Count One (conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire), Count Two (murder-for-hire), and Count Three (conspiracy to commit money laundering), as indicated in court records.

Gupta was accompanied by defense attorney David Touger. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille Fletcher, Alexander Li, and Ashley Nicolas. A court reporter and Hindi interpreters were present during the session in New York.

Judge Netburn recommended that District Judge Victor Marrero accept the plea. A control date has been scheduled for March 15, 2026. Gupta remains in custody. The court mandated a Presentence Investigation Report (PSI), and his detention continues.

This plea concludes months of pre-trial proceedings in what has become one of the most scrutinized foreign-linked criminal cases in Manhattan federal court.

Previously, Gupta faced charges in a superseding indictment that accused him of plotting the assassination of a Sikh political activist identified in court documents as “a U.S. citizen of Indian descent living in New York City” and “a prominent figure in the Sikh separatist movement.”

Prosecutors alleged that Gupta employed intermediaries, including a confidential informant and an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman, to orchestrate the scheme.

According to court records, an advance payment of $15,000 was made in New York for the assassination, laying the groundwork for the money-laundering conspiracy charge.

Gupta was apprehended in June 2023 at the airport in Prague, Czech Republic, and subsequently extradited to the United States. In October 2025, Judge Marrero dismissed Gupta’s attempt to suppress statements made during his arrest and interrogation, as well as his effort to dismiss the money-laundering charge.

The court concluded that there was “no joint venture between authorities in the Czech Republic and the United States,” affirming that Gupta’s statements were made voluntarily and that he lacked standing to contest the additional charge under the rule of specialty.

With the guilty plea entered on Thursday, Gupta has accepted responsibility for all three charges in the superseding indictment. The case will now proceed to the sentencing phase.

The U.S. Probation Office will compile a Presentence Investigation Report detailing Gupta’s background, the nature of the offense, and suggested guideline calculations. Sentencing will be conducted by Judge Marrero following a review of the PSI and written arguments from both parties.

The charges carry significant penalties. Federal murder-for-hire laws impose severe prison sentences, potentially including life imprisonment, depending on statutory and guideline assessments. The money-laundering conspiracy charge also carries substantial prison risks.

Judge Netburn’s recommendation must receive formal approval from Judge Marrero before the sentencing process can advance. For now, Gupta remains in federal custody awaiting further court developments.