New Delhi: The Centre has responded strongly to a US court issuing summons to the Indian government and top officials in the case of attempted assassination on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "As we've said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations. Now that this particular case has been lodged, it doesn't change our views about the underlying situation. I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known."

"I would also underline the fact that the organisation so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," he added.

Pannun is seeking damages for the alleged assassination attempt against him.

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued summons to the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel in connection with the assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice.

Two people, Nikhil Gupta and Vikram Yadav, who have been accused in the case, were also summoned.

Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government for his alleged involvement in the plot to assassinate Pannun in New York.

He was extradited to the US in June 2024. Earlier, in April, The Washington Post reported that Vikram Yadav, an officer with R&AW, was implicated as the official behind the assassination plot, with former R&AW chief Samant Goel reportedly approving the operation.

The Indian government has dismissed these claims, calling them "unwarranted and unsubstantiated" and denying any involvement of Indian agents in the plot to kill Pannun.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada, is wanted in India on terrorism charges and has been designated a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the Union Home Ministry.

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

Pannun works as the general counsel for the New York-based Sikhs for Justice, which is banned in India.

The group seeks to carve out an independent Sikh state from Punjab named Khalistan.

India designated Pannun as a terrorist in 2020.

Pannun had released a video asking Sikhs not to fly in Air India aircraft on November 19, 2023 as their lives could be under threat. He claimed that Air India would not be allowed to operate on that day. He effectively threatened to blow up Air India flight on Nov 19, 2023.

Pannun, who is a US-Canadian dual citizen of Indian origin, is designated by India as a terrorist. Last year he indirectly threatened to blow up an Air India plane flying on Nov 19 urging Sikhs not to fly on that day by the airline.