NEW DELHI - A former Indian government official charged in the US this week for allegedly directing a foiled murder plot had been arrested in New Delhi in December in an attempted murder case, according to court records and a police officer.

The US Justice Department unsealed the indictment of Vikash Yadav, 39, on Oct 17, alleging he led a plot to murder a Sikh separatist in New York.

The US indictment alleges that from May 2023, Yadav, described as an Indian government employee at the time, worked with others in India and abroad to direct a plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen.

The Delhi police had arrested Yadav on Dec 18 in the Indian capital, the police officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Yadav and an associate were charged with attempted murder and other crimes, according to a filing in a Delhi district court.

Yadav's lawyer, R K Handoo, called the Indian charges "fallacious", adding there was "an international plot to bring shame on the government of India and my client".

Handoo declined to comment further.

Related

---