US Court Issues Summons to Ajit Doval and Former RAW Chief

A district court in the United States has issued summons to National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel in connection with a civil lawsuit filed by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The lawsuit alleges that Indian officials conspired to assassinate him and seeks compensation for the alleged assassination attempt. The US State Department confirmed that the summons were forwarded to the Indian government through diplomatic channels via the Indian Embassy in Washington. It stated that the documents were transmitted in response to a court request under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). The department also clarified that the US government has no involvement in the allegations or the court proceedings.

Pannun, who represents the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), filed the lawsuit seeking damages over the alleged plot against him. The Indian government has strongly rejected the allegations against Doval and Goel. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the claims as malicious and baseless while addressing the media in New Delhi on Tuesday. He said India rejects the frivolous lawsuit and also pointed out that foreign court documents must be served in India only through the authorised channel, the Ministry of Law and Justice.