India has dismissed as "fabricated and malicious" a lawsuit filed against National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing chief Samant Goel, accusing them of plotting to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States. The lawsuit was submitted by Pannun, legal counsel for the banned group Sikhs for Justice.
The allegations came after the US State Department confirmed it had served court summonses to India through a diplomatic note. The diplomatic note was delivered on October 9, 2026, according to the US State Department. Sikhs for Justice is banned in India, and Pannun is wanted by Indian investigating agencies on various terror charges.
In response, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government rejects the baseless accusations against its high officials and considers the lawsuit frivolous. He emphasized that requests to serve judicial documents in India can only be made through the designated central authority, the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The US State Department, in the diplomatic note, stated that they had no discretion in carrying out the request from the District Court under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. They also made it clear that the transmission of the summonses should not be seen as an indication of the US government's position on any matter related to the case. The diplomatic note further advised the parties to consult an attorney in the US.
It is important to note that India has maintained its stance, rejecting Pannun's allegations and the lawsuit, while insisting that requests to serve judicial documents within the country must be routed through the Ministry of Law and Justice.