India on Tuesday strongly rejected a report in the Washington Post alleging that a former Indian intelligence officer plotted to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the report "unwarranted and unsubstantiated."
Jaiswal stated that there is an ongoing investigation by a high-level committee established by the Indian government to address security concerns raised by the US regarding criminal and terrorist networks.
A subsequent indictment filed in a Manhattan court named Indian national Nikhil Gupta as a conspirator who allegedly collaborated with an unnamed Indian official, referred to as "CC-1," in the plot.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said earlier this month that India's national security interests are involved in its investigation into the alleged involvement of a government official in the assassination plot aimed at Pannun.
"This is a serious matter and we're taking that very, very seriously. The Government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
