Ex-Indian Officer Accused by FBI Rejects Murder-for-Hire Allegations: Family Demands Answers
In a quiet village nestled 100 kilometers from Delhi, the family of Vikash Yadav is reeling from shocking allegations. The 39-year-old former Indian official, once associated with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), now finds himself at the center of an international controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Yadav of orchestrating a plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent figure in the Khalistani separatist movement. But for those who know him, the accusations seem far-fetched and surreal.
Yadav's cousin, Avinash Yadav, has dismissed the allegations, calling them false. He relayed his disbelief during a conversation with Reuters, standing in the modest confines of the family home in Pranpura, a village in Haryana. "For us, he is still a deputy commandant with the CRPF," Avinash insisted, referencing Yadav's career with the paramilitary force that began in 2009. He added that his cousin had been trained as a paratrooper and had never hinted at any involvement in intelligence operations, let alone in a murder conspiracy.
The indictment, unsealed by U.S. authorities, paints a different picture. It accuses Yadav of being a former operative for India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country's foreign intelligence agency, and of directing another Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, to hire a hitman for $15,000 to carry out the assassination of Pannun. The alleged murder plot, however, was never executed.
Pannun, a lawyer and the leader of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has been a vocal advocate for a separate Sikh homeland, a cause that India views as a serious national security threat. The Indian government has long opposed SFJ's activities, banning the organization in 2019 under anti-terror laws and labeling Pannun as a terrorist. Yet, to date, the Indian authorities have refrained from commenting on the specifics of Yadav’s case, only acknowledging that they are investigating the allegations and clarifying that Yadav is no longer in government service.
Despite the U.S. claims, Yadav’s relatives and villagers struggle to reconcile the man they knew with the character portrayed in the indictment. His mother, Sudesh Yadav, still visibly shaken, expressed disbelief. "What can I say? I do not know whether the U.S. government is telling the truth or not," she said, sitting in the single-story family house. To her, Vikash was a dutiful son who dedicated his life to serving the country, and the idea of him being involved in a murder plot seemed impossible. His family pointed out their humble lifestyle as evidence, questioning where the supposed large sums of money would have come from. "Can you see any Audis or Mercedes lined up outside this house?" Avinash asked, gesturing towards the modest surroundings.
The Yadav family is not new to military service. Vikash's late father had served in the Indian Border Security Force, and his brother is a police officer in Haryana. Growing up, Vikash had shown a passion for sports and books, even achieving recognition as a national-level marksman. His quiet disposition and disciplined life made the allegations all the more shocking for those who knew him.
The timing of the case has raised eyebrows in India, coming amidst heightened tensions over Sikh separatism. The issue flared up again after the killing of another pro-Khalistan figure, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada. Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, accused India of being involved in the assassination, a claim that has further strained diplomatic relations. Now, with Yadav’s case unfolding, it appears that accusations of extraterritorial operations and covert killings are not limited to Canadian soil.
The U.S. authorities have not disclosed the full details of how they came to suspect Yadav's involvement or what evidence links him directly to the alleged plot. Meanwhile, American media reports suggest that Yadav remains in India, prompting speculation about a possible extradition request from Washington. For now, Indian officials have chosen to maintain a cautious silence, with no word on Yadav’s current whereabouts or his ties to any intelligence services.
Yadav’s relatives are urging the Indian government to come forward and clarify the situation. "We want the Indian government to support us; they should inform us what has happened," Avinash stated, expressing concern that the family was being kept in the dark. "Otherwise, where will we go?" Their appeal underscores a broader worry that paramilitary officers and other security personnel could be left vulnerable if the government is perceived as abandoning one of its own.
The broader context also cannot be ignored. The rise of the Khalistan movement as a contentious geopolitical issue has drawn in multiple governments, with varying stakes in how it unfolds. While India's stance against separatism is well-known, the implication of its citizens in criminal activities abroad poses a serious challenge to its diplomatic standing. The allegations against Yadav, if substantiated, could point to a disturbing escalation in tactics used to quell dissent, while the murky details surrounding the case also risk becoming fodder for anti-India propaganda.
As the controversy unfolds, Yadav’s story remains shrouded in ambiguity, with his family caught in a whirlwind of suspicion and uncertainty. To them, he is still the loyal officer who wore the uniform with pride. Whether or not he was involved in something darker, only time and a transparent investigation may reveal. For now, the echoes of doubt and disbelief continue to resonate from the small village of Pranpura, where the family waits for clarity and answers in a situation that feels increasingly out of their control.
