New twist in Pannun case - Controversy unfolds

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): US President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Jay Clayton, former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as the new District Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Clayton will replace Damian Williams, the federal prosecutor who filed charges against former Indian intelligence officer Vikash Yadav in connection with an alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Yadav, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, was accused of attempting to hire a hitman to kill Pannun. In the same case, Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta was charged as a co-conspirator. Gupta was extradited to the U.S. in June following his arrest in the Czech Republic. He has denied any involvement in the plot. Yadav, described as a “senior field officer” of RAW, is reportedly in Indian custody on charges of kidnapping and extortion and is on the FBI’s wanted list.

The case has drawn attention in India, with the Indian government consistently denying any involvement in the alleged plot. Trump praised Clayton for his work as SEC chairman during his first term, calling him a "highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant." Clayton brings a wealth of experience in financial cases, which will be valuable in handling high-profile cases in the Southern District of New York, including those related to investment fraud and stock market manipulation. The district is known for managing some of the most significant financial and legal cases in the U.S.