An Indian government official conspired to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the United States, according to charges announced by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday. The official, who remains unnamed, worked with Nikhil Gupta to plot the murder of a New York City resident who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India. Gupta was arrested in June after attempting to hire a hitman, and is awaiting extradition. The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. If convicted of the charges against him, Gupta faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.