Amidst the developments in the alleged murder plot of Khalistan separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, the director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Chief will be visiting New Delhi next week, and meet the heads of India’s intelligence agencies – R&AW, CBI, IB, NIA and National Security Council Secretariat.
Sources in the intelligence department told News18 that Christopher Wray’s visit to India is to discuss “strategic issues”, and not specifically about Pannun’s case.
The Indian side will “definitely” raise the matter of terror activities of various groups if Wray specifically presses for any individual case, the sources pointed out.
Top intelligence sources have not denied Wray’s agenda on discussing the recent arrest of one Nikhil Gupta in Czech Republic recruited for completing the assassination of Pannun in the US, according to the press release shared by the US’ justice department.
The Indian agencies will share with the FBI chief the evidence and dossier against Punnun and Khalistani groups related to the case.
This is Wray’s first visit to India since taking charge in 2017, and the first visit by an FBI director in 12 years.
The Indian government is already dealing with the top brass in the US regarding the case, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is handling the matter, said the sources.
In the press release by the US Justice Department, an Indian government employee, who has not been named but referred to as CC-1, has been working with others, including Gupta, in India and other countries to assassinate an attorney and political activist (American citizen of Indian origin) on US soil. Gupta, therefore, has been described as an associate of CC-1, and was recruited by him in May, 2023 to “orchestrate the assassination”, the release said.
The intelligence agencies had earlier pointed out that the US authorities’ response against Pannun and his alleged criminal activities have been lukewarm despite India providing them with direct and solid evidence against the terrorist. “They (US authorities) keep quite every day, whereas he is threatening the Indian Prime Minister, External Affairs Ministry, and National Security Advisor on a daily basis”.
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