India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, November 10, dismissed a civil lawsuit filed in the United States by Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, describing the legal action as frivolous and the allegations against senior Indian officials as fabricated and malicious.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the claims during a regular press briefing, reiterating New Delhi’s position that the lawsuit contains unfounded accusations against Indian government representatives. His remarks followed a November 9 order by a U.S. District Court in New York permitting Pannun to proceed with serving legal summons through designated Indian channels.
Jaiswal emphasized that foreign judicial documents intended for individuals in India must follow established legal procedures and be routed through the country’s Ministry of Law and Justice. The ministry maintained that the latest court order does not establish the validity of the allegations contained in the lawsuit.
Pannun, who serves as legal counsel for the U.S.-based organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), filed the civil action in September 2024. The lawsuit alleges that senior Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel, were involved in a purported conspiracy to murder him in New York in 2023.
The Indian government has consistently denied allegations of official involvement in the alleged murder plot.
The latest developments represent a procedural advancement in the U.S. civil case rather than a judicial determination of responsibility. The court’s authorization to serve summons allows the legal proceedings to move forward, while the allegations against the named individuals remain contested.
The case continues to draw attention to the legal and diplomatic challenges surrounding allegations of transnational activities targeting Sikh separatist figures, with India maintaining its rejection of the accusations against its senior officials.
