Wanted for Pannun murder plot by US, Vikash Yadav arrested for extortion; Why?

Vikash Yadav arrested for extortion: Vikash Yadav, who has been named as a co-conspirator by U.S. authorities in the alleged murder plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was arrested by Delhi Police 10 months ago for extortion, attempted murder, and kidnapping. His arrest came weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) identified him as "CC-1" in the high-profile "murder-for-hire" case targeting Pannun.

Arrest linked to extortion case

Vikash Yadav was taken into custody by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police following a complaint by a Delhi-based businessman. The businessman alleged that Yadav, along with an accomplice, was involved in an extortion attempt that included kidnapping and physical assault. In the complaint, the businessman also connected Yadav to notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, further complicating the case.

Along with Yadav, another individual was arrested in the case that was filed in December 2023. Although Yadav was granted bail in April 2024, his arrest resurfaced in the news after he was linked to the Pannun murder plot by U.S. authorities.

What is the story of Vikash Yadav?

The extortion case first emerged when the businessman, who runs an IT company with ties to several individuals in West Asia, lodged a complaint with Delhi Police. According to his account, he was introduced to Vikash Yadav in November 2023 by an acquaintance who claimed Yadav was a senior government officer. The two soon developed a friendship and exchanged contact information.

In his complaint, the businessman stated that Yadav led him to believe that he was an undercover agent, though he never disclosed any details about his work. On December 11, Yadav allegedly invited the businessman to a meeting under the pretense of discussing a pressing issue. However, upon his arrival, the businessman was abducted and taken to a flat in the Defence Colony.

The businessman claims Yadav revealed that he had been contracted by Lawrence Bishnoi to kill him. During the abduction, he was assaulted, robbed of his gold chain and rings, and taken to his café, where Yadav and his accomplice stole all the available cash. After threatening him with further harm if he reported the crime, Yadav and his accomplice abandoned him on the roadside.

Arrest and confession

A week after the incident, on December 18, Delhi Police arrested Yadav and his accomplice based on the businessman’s complaint. A case was registered under various charges, including kidnapping, attempted murder, and criminal conspiracy. During questioning, Yadav's accomplice disclosed that financial losses in his old vehicle business had driven him to crime. Yadav, on the other hand, claimed that his father, a former Border Security Force (BSF) officer, had died in 2007, and admitted to targeting the businessman for financial gain.

Indian Government responds to the charges laid by U.S.

The arrest took on new significance this week when U.S. prosecutors officially named Vikash Yadav as a key figure in the plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Yadav, described as a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been charged with "murder-for-hire and money laundering" by U.S. authorities. The FBI has released Yadav’s photos and identified his place of birth as Pranpura, Haryana.

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the individual mentioned in the U.S. indictment is no longer employed by the Indian government.