US State Department issues summons to Indian govt in civil lawsuit by Gurpatwant Pannun

PTC News Desk: The US State Department on Monday sent legal summonses to the Indian government through diplomatic channels in connection with a civil lawsuit filed by Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The department clarified that it was legally required to deliver the summonses and that this did not mean it was taking any side in the case.

Earlier, a New York court allowed Pannun, who has been declared a terrorist by India, to serve the lawsuit on National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel through courts in Delhi.

US investigation into alleged murder plot

The civil lawsuit is linked to a US investigation into an alleged plot to kill Pannun.

In 2023, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in connection with the case. According to the US Department of Justice, Gupta pleaded guilty in February 2026 in a Manhattan federal court to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The charges are linked to an alleged failed plot to kill a US citizen and Sikh activist on American soil.

The US authorities alleged that Gupta, who was accused of drug smuggling, was recruited in May 2023 by Vikash Yadav, an officer with RAW, to carry out the killing.

Gupta faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 40 years.

Pannun claims fresh threat to life

In August, Pannun, general counsel of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), which is banned in India, claimed that Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had warned him about a fresh and serious threat to his life.

Pannun, who holds US and Canadian citizenship, said FBI officials visited him on August 12 and warned him against travelling until the threat was resolved. He was also told to inform the agency in advance if he needed to travel.

He further claimed that the RCMP contacted him by phone on Tuesday and warned him about the threat. However, neither agency shared details about the alleged plot.

Requests for comments from both law enforcement agencies had not received an immediate response.

Pannun said the warnings were issued under the US "Duty to Warn" law. This law requires intelligence and law enforcement agencies to inform people when they learn of specific and credible threats involving murder, serious physical harm or kidnapping.