NEW DELHI: The household of Vikash Yadav, an ex-official charged by the US with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot in opposition to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has expressed disbelief and shock over the allegations, sustaining that he’s harmless regardless of severe accusations being levelled in opposition to him.
In accordance with Yadav’s family, the 39-year-old has firmly rejected the costs, describing them as nothing greater than “false media stories” in a dialog along with his cousin.
Talking from their ancestral village of Pranpura, positioned round 100 kilometers from New Delhi, Avinash Yadav recounted his dialogue with Vikash, highlighting the previous official’s assertion that the allegations lacked any foundation.
“The household has no info” about him working for the spy company, Yadav’s cousin stated. “He by no means talked about something about it. For us, he’s nonetheless working for the CRPF,” Avinash advised information company Reuters, referring to the Police Drive the place Vikash has served since 2009 and had risen to the rank of deputy commandant.
Vikash Yadav has been accused by the US Division of Justice of main a plot to assassinate Pannun final 12 months. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges that Yadav directed the scheme, which finally failed.
In accordance with the costs, Yadav was an official with India’s Analysis and Evaluation Wing (RAW), the nation’s international intelligence service, on the time of the conspiracy.
Vikash’s mom, Sudesh Yadav, 65, expressed her disbelief, “What can I say? I have no idea whether or not the US authorities is telling the reality or not. He has been working for the nation.”
Whereas the US indictment particulars an elaborate plot involving one other Indian nationwide, Nikhil Gupta, who allegedly paid a hitman $15,000 to hold out the killing, the Yadav household stated that they discover the claims inconsistent. “The place will a lot cash come from? Are you able to see any Audis or Mercedes lined up outdoors this home?” Avinash questioned, gesturing towards the household’s single-storey house.
“Solely the federal government of India and Vikash know what has occurred,” stated Amit Yadav, one other cousin, who described Vikash as a quiet boy who excelled in books and athletics.
Vikash Yadav’s village Pranpura is house to about 500 households, and has a protracted custom of sending younger males to hitch the safety forces. Yadav’s father, a former officer in India’s border pressure, died in 2007, and his brother at the moment serves within the Haryana police.
Reuters reported that the household stays unaware about Vikash’s present whereabouts. US officers imagine he’s nonetheless in India, with stories suggesting that the US might search his extradition.
Each Yadav and one other Indian Nikhil Gupta have been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a most penalty of 10 years in jail; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, additionally punishable by as much as 10 years; and conspiracy to commit cash laundering, which carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail. A federal district courtroom choose will decide their sentences after considering the US Sentencing Tips and different statutory elements.
