New Delhi, Nov 11:
India on Tuesday dismissed a US civil suit filed by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, counsel for banned Sikhs for Justice.
At weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We reject the fabricated and malicious attacks on our high officials. Also we reject the frivolous lawsuits. A request for serving of judicial documents in India can only be routed through India's designated central authority that is the Ministry of Law and Justice.”
Context: Pannun filed suit Sept 2024 in US District Court Southern District of New York naming Govt of India, NSA Doval, former RAW chief Goel, Vikash Yadav, Nikhil Gupta and others for alleged conspiracy to assassinate him in New York in 2023. He seeks damages.
Two developments triggered MEA response:
1. US State Department confirmed it transmitted court summonses to Indian Embassy in Washington DC through diplomatic channels Oct 9, with diplomatic note signed Sept 30 under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act FSIA. Note clarified State Dept has "no discretion" — it must carry court request, transmission does not imply position on merits, nor validity of service.
2. US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla on Nov 9 ordered alternative service procedure under Article 19 Hague Convention — allowing Pannun to serve Doval, Goel through courts in Delhi. Pannun must file proposed service packet by Nov 30 including summons copies, method, Indian law provisions, records of earlier failed attempts. India's central authority for Hague Service Convention is Dept of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.
Separate criminal case: Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty Feb 2026 to murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges related to same alleged plot, per Outlook. That case is distinct from Pannun's civil suit.
India's line since 2023: High-level committee probed US inputs, allegations not proven, SFJ banned under UAPA, Pannun designated terrorist.
Analytical View:
This is lawfare + diplomacy. Pannun's strategy is to keep officials under US legal shadow, force discovery. US courts allow broad service rules, but FSIA gives sovereign immunity — Indian government likely to move to dismiss.
MEA invoking Hague central authority is key — it says US can't bypass India's legal channel via embassy note. Even if summons delivered, immunity defense will be raised.
Politically, timing matters — India-US trade deal talks ongoing, 50% tariff threats over Russia oil. MEA calling case frivolous signals no compromise on NSA.
*Tags:* #Pannun #AjitDoval #SamantGoel #MEA #RAW #HagueConvention #SikhsForJustice #USCourt