The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for instigating Sikh soldiers to prevent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from hoisting the Indian tricolor at Red Fort, Delhi on 15 Aug—Independence Day. Pannu also offered a USD 1.2M reward for the act. The First Information Report registered by NIA cites credible information and video retrieved from SFJ US official X handle. NIA says, on 10 Aug, Pannun hosted a Meet the Press at Lahore Press Club in Pakistan where he addressed journalists via video link from Washington, rejecting India’s sovereignty over Panjab and promoting the cause of Khalistan. The FIR says, 'During the press meet, he also unveiled SFJ’s new Delhi Banega Khalistan (Delhi will become Khalistan) referendum map which incorporates Panjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi into envisioned Khalistan.' Meanwhile, on 22 Sep, the authorities arrested Inderjit Singh Gosal, a close aide of Pannun on multiple firearms-related charges. On 26 Sep, Gosal was released on bail and he announced the Referendum in India on 23 Nov. Meanwhile, on 2 Sep, former SFJ member Gurpreet Singh Nihang spoke about his decision to leave the organization. Nihang said his departure came after years of tension, especially when his family started being targeted. The core reason for his decision came from ideological differences within the movement. When asked what he wanted—Khalistan or Sikhi—he responded, 'I would take Sikhi a thousand times over Khalistan. Sikhi is equality.' While talking about the Khalistan Referendum campaign, Nihang expressed how the process lacked reliability. Concurrently, the US government has leveled fresh charges against jailed Indian national Nikhil Gupta accused of the murder-for-hire plot against Pannun. The charges include money laundering, credit card fraud, trafficking of drugs and weapons, besides an attempt to kill a person in Nepal or Pakistan. US prosecutors have also said in court that former Indian Research & Analysis Wing officer Vikash Yadav promised to supply firearms and even arrange clearance for an aircraft to move weapons from India. The filing is a 'motion in limine', a type of pre-trial request where lawyers ask the judge to decide, before the trial begins, what evidence can or cannot be shown to jurors. Gupta, 52, is scheduled to face trial on 3 Nov (earlier coverage).
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