# US court delays Gupta sentencing as Pannun seeks to speak

2026-08-12T07:16:37+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

A US federal court has postponed the sentencing of Indian national Nikhil Gupta in the murder-for-hire plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to November 20. The sentencing was originally set for September 25. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York requested the delay because the unnamed victim, identified by his lawyer as Pannun, wants to attend and speak at the hearing and will not be in the US on the original date. Gupta pleaded guilty in February to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and extradited to the US. Prosecutors say Gupta was recruited by Vikash Yadav, an Indian government official, to arrange a $100,000 payment to a hitman who turned out to be an undercover federal agent.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/designated-terrorist-pannun-wants-to-attend-trial-us-seeks-delay-in-trial-murder-for-hire-plot-article-155596301>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/indian-national-nikhil-guptas-sentencing-in-gurpatwant-pannun-murder-plot-case-delayed-to-november-20/articleshow/133168454.cms>

Tags: extradition, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, India-US relations, murder-for-hire plot, Nikhil Gupta, US federal court
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