This is not just a routine criminal matter. Yadav’s name has already been thrust into international spotlight after the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) indicted him in 2023 for his alleged role in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The FBI currently lists Yadav as a wanted man, alleging his involvement in the transnational conspiracy.
Now, his repeated absences from Indian court proceedings have triggered strict judicial action.
At the Patiala House Court, Yadav was expected to attend proceedings in the Walia kidnapping case. However, he remained absent. The court, observing his repeated non-compliance, invoked Section 491 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with forfeiture of bonds, and issued notice to his bail surety while simultaneously directing the issuance of an NBW.
Significantly, Yadav has been citing “threats to his life” as the reason for his reluctance to appear physically in court. The court, however, found little merit in this justification, indicating that judicial patience with his evasions has run out.
In contrast, the same order offered partial relief to co-accused Abdullah Khan, whose passport release was extended until 17 October 2025 on humanitarian grounds, owing to his father’s ill health. The court noted that Abdullah, in earlier instances, had not misused the liberty of international travel.
Along with Yadav and Abdullah, the prime accused Jalaluddin alias Sameer is also out on bail. Together, the trio form the central focus of the Special Cell’s investigation.
Yet, the circle of suspects is expanding. Investigators are now probing Bikram Gogoi, a Guwahati resident, who allegedly introduced Jalaluddin to Abdullah. Gogoi has already received four notices from the Special Cell and, sensing imminent arrest, has applied for anticipatory bail, insisting his role was limited to introductions.
The case stems from a complaint by Delhi businessman Raj Kumar Walia, who accused Yadav and Abdullah of forcibly abducting him. Once in custody, Walia alleges he was tortured and pressured for ransom while his captors invoked the fearsome name of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to add weight to their threats.
The charge sheet portrays a disturbing nexus of former intelligence officials, organised crime networks, and freelance operatives—an ecosystem where intimidation, extortion, and high-stakes conspiracies intersect.
The domestic charges against Yadav come against the backdrop of his alleged involvement in one of the most politically sensitive cases in recent memory: the foiled murder plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Pannun, a US-Canadian national and the self-proclaimed leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is on India’s list of designated terrorists. But the DoJ indictment of 2023 changed the global narrative, with American prosecutors alleging that Yadav coordinated with hired killers and international contacts to eliminate Pannun on foreign soil.
The arrest of Yadav by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2023 came just weeks after the US made the indictment public, raising eyebrows about the murky overlaps of espionage, crime, and shadow wars.
Yadav’s trajectory from a R&AW officer India’s premier external intelligence service—to a fugitive accused in cases spanning two continents represents one of the most sensational falls from grace in recent history. Once entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s security, he is today battling allegations of being at the heart of conspiracies involving:
- International assassination plots tied to Sikh separatists abroad.
- Domestic abduction and torture cases linked to extortion rackets.
- A widening criminal network where underworld names like Bishnoi surface alongside intelligence veterans.
The NBW issued against Yadav now puts his legal position in grave jeopardy. If he fails to surrender, the Delhi Police Special Cell will be legally bound to track and arrest him, setting the stage for a direct confrontation between an ex-spy and the country’s law enforcement machinery.
For India, the case carries dual sensitivities managing its image abroad in the wake of the US indictment while addressing the serious allegations of crime and conspiracy on home soil.
The next date of hearing has been set for October 17 2025, when Abdullah Khan’s passport matter will also come up. By then, authorities may also close in on new suspect Bikram Gogoi, potentially widening the probe further.
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