US State department serves India summons in Pannun's civil lawsuit

The US State Department has transmitted a summons, complaint and notice of suit to the Government of India through diplomatic channels in connection with a civil lawsuit filed by US-based Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, according to agency reports.
In a letter dated October 20, 2026, addressed to the clerk of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, the State Department confirmed that the legal documents had been delivered to the Indian Embassy in Washington on October 9 through a diplomatic note signed on September 30.

BREAKING: US judge allows Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun to serve his civil lawsuit on NSA Ajit Doval and ex-RAW chief Samant Goel through Indian courts in Delhi https://t.co/LNU0fFlO8S

— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) November 10, 2026

The letter, signed by Jared N. Hess, Attorney Adviser at the State Department's Office of the Legal Adviser, stated that the transmission was carried out in response to the court's request under Section 1608(a)(4) of Title 28 of the US Code, which provides for service of legal documents through diplomatic channels.
Pannun, a US-based leader of the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), filed the civil lawsuit in September 2024, seeking damages over an alleged conspiracy to assassinate him in New York in 2023.The lawsuit names the Government of India, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel, senior RAW officer Vikram Yadav and Indian national Nikhil Gupta, among others. It alleges that Indian officials were involved in a conspiracy to arrange Pannun's killing in the US.Pannun has sought damages on grounds of alleged assault and infliction of emotional distress, claiming that the purported assassination plot caused him serious harm and left him fearing for his safety.India has designated Pannun a terrorist and accused him of promoting separatist activities and violence against Indian diplomats. The allegations made in the US civil lawsuit remain claims by the plaintiff and have not been established by the transmission of the court documents.