New Delhi: The guilty plea by Nikhil Gupta on Friday (February 13, 2026) transforms the United States (US) case from a series of allegations into a judicially confirmed conspiracy to assassinate an American citizen on its own soil. The US District Court for Southern District New York (SDNY) release states that Gupta worked “at the direction of an Indian government employee”.The prosecutors now have on-the-record admissions made by Gupta that may strengthen their pursuit of connected individuals, including any Indian official. Media reporting has identified “CC‑1” as Vikash Yadav (the Indian official), a senior field officer with intelligence duties inside India’s government structure.What is Yadav’s current legal status?While Gupta has admitted guilt, Yadav remains a wanted fugitive in the eyes of the US justice system. He faces the same three counts as Gupta: Murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and money laundering conspiracy. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Yadav in October 2024 by the SDNY. He also remains on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) ‘Most Wanted’ list.What does Gupta’s plea mean for Yadav?It is not clear whether Gupta’s plea indicates a degree of cooperation or if it was a move to avoid a high-profile public trial that would have featured even more damaging intelligence-sharing between the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). But by pleading guilty, Gupta has waived his right to a trial. In the US legal system, this often implies a cooperation agreement, where the defendant provides evidence against bigger fish in exchange for a lighter sentence.Also read: US Formally Charges Former RAW Operative ‘CC1’ in Pannun Murder Plot, Identifies Him as Vikash YadavIf Gupta has shared encrypted communications or testimony directly linking Yadav to the attempted hit, the US now possesses airtight evidence for a trial against Yadav. Even if sealed, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) can deploy Gupta’s allocution and communications as co‑conspirator statements at a future trial.That ratchets up Yadav’s exposure on conspiracy and related counts, including money‑laundering conspiracies.What are the other implications for Yadav?Yadav is currently the subject of a US federal arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice. As per media reports, he remains in India. If he travels to any of the 190+ Interpol member countries, particularly those with strong US extradition treaties (like the United Kingdom, Canada or to the European Union), he faces immediate arrest and transfer to New York.The warrant thus becomes a lifetime travel constraint for Yadav. If he steps into the wrong jurisdiction, he will face arrest. This is precisely what happened with Iran‑linked defendants nabbed in third countries in the Alinejad saga.Can the US prosecute Yadav?In theory, yes, as he is already indicted by the DOJ which has treated him as a charged fugitive. This means the US government’s position is that it can and will prosecute him if he is apprehended. If that is the case, the sentencing of Gupta on May 29 will likely be the final preamble to a formal US demand for Yadav to be extradited.Could Yadav be tried in absentia?The US does not conduct federal criminal trials in absentia except in rare procedural circumstances. In other words, the indictment stands and the arrest warrant against Yadav remains open indefinitely. The US can continue issuing diplomatic protests and sanctions if warranted. A conviction, however, would require Yadav’s physical presence in court.Can the US legally make a case for Yadav’s extradition?The US DOJ statements say Gupta “worked at the direction of an Indian government employee” to plot the killing. In US federal courts, once a co-conspirator pleads guilty, the “existence of a conspiracy” is essentially settled. If the DOJ now moves for Yadav’s extradition, it will no longer need to convince a judge that a plot existed. It needs to only show that Yadav was the individual behind the CC-1 alias.Also read: ‘No Visit from Indian Embassy in Seven Months,’ Says Pannun Murder Plot Accused Nikhil Gupta: ReportYadav could face the specific charges of murder‑for‑hire, conspiracy to commit murder‑for‑hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, mirroring Gupta’s charges. All of them are extraditable federal crimes under US law. Gupta’s admission of the USD 15,000 advance payment provides the “probable cause” required under Article 9 of the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty.What is the status of his extradition?While US prosecutors have confirmed that Yadav is not in US custody and remains in India, there has been no official confirmation from the DOJ of any new, formal extradition request filed specifically since Gupta’s plea.Will India extradite Yadav?Under the 1997 US-India Extradition Treaty, India can refuse if the offence is deemed “political”, but “murder-for-hire” is generally excluded from that protection. In practice, Yadav’s extradition by the Indian government is unlikely. New Delhi is extremely unlikely to extradite an intelligence official to the US.India informed the US that Yadav is no longer employed by the Government of India. This removes the ‘sovereign immunity’ defence that often protects state officials from foreign prosecution. In any case, the US Supreme Court precedent in Samantar v. Yousuf (2010) clarified that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not shield individual officials from being sued or prosecuted for unauthorised criminal acts.What excuse could India use to deny his extradition?Under Article 6 of their extradition treaty, India can refuse extradition to the US if the person is already being tried for the same offence or is serving a sentence for another crime. By keeping Yadav in an Indian jail or under local judicial supervision, New Delhi can technically comply with the letter of the law without handing him over to the FBI.In January 2025, an Indian inquiry committee recommended legal action against an official with criminal links. By admitting Yadav had prior criminal antecedents, India may attempt to prosecute him under domestic law. Moreover, Yadav faces separate legal issues at home. As per reports, Delhi Police registered an extortion case against him. The government may use this domestic criminal case to keep him in Indian custody, thereby avoiding his extradition to the US.