'Working for country': Family of ex-Indian official rejects Pannun murder plot allegations

NEW DELHI: The family of Vikash Yadav , an ex-official charged by the US with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has expressed disbelief and shock over the allegations, maintaining that he is innocent despite serious accusations being levelled against him.

According to Yadav’s relatives, the 39-year-old has firmly rejected the charges, describing them as nothing more than "false media reports" in a conversation with his cousin.

Speaking from their ancestral village of Pranpura, located around 100 kilometers from New Delhi, Avinash Yadav recounted his discussion with Vikash, highlighting the former official’s assertion that the allegations lacked any basis.

"The family has no information" about him working for the spy agency, Yadav's cousin said. "He never mentioned anything about it. For us, he is still working for the CRPF,” Avinash told news agency Reuters, referring to the Police Force where Vikash has served since 2009 and had risen to the rank of deputy commandant.

Vikash Yadav has been accused by the US Department of Justice of leading a plot to assassinate Pannun last year. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges that Yadav directed the scheme, which ultimately failed.

According to the charges, Yadav was an official with India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country's foreign intelligence service, at the time of the conspiracy.

Vikash’s mother, Sudesh Yadav, 65, expressed her disbelief, "What can I say? I do not know whether the US government is telling the truth or not. He has been working for the country."

While the US indictment details an elaborate plot involving another Indian national, Nikhil Gupta , who allegedly paid a hitman $15,000 to carry out the killing, the Yadav family said that they find the claims inconsistent. “Where will so much money come from? Can you see any Audis or Mercedes lined up outside this house?” Avinash questioned, gesturing toward the family's single-storey home.

“Only the government of India and Vikash know what has happened,” said Amit Yadav, another cousin, who described Vikash as a quiet boy who excelled in books and athletics.

Vikash Yadav’s village Pranpura is home to about 500 families, and has a long tradition of sending young men to join the security forces. Yadav’s father, a former officer in India’s border force, died in 2007, and his brother currently serves in the Haryana police.

Reuters reported that the family remains unaware about Vikash’s current whereabouts. US officials believe he is still in India, with reports suggesting that the US may seek his extradition.

Both Yadav and another Indian Nikhil Gupta have been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, also punishable by up to 10 years; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine their sentences after taking into consideration the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.