We'll be satisfied only if guilty held accountable: US envoy on Pannun case

NEW DELHI: Days after US authorities announced charges against a former Indian government official, Vikash Yadav , for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot, US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti told TOI in an exclusive interaction that while American authorities are satisfied with the progress in India's probe into the case, Washington will be satisfied ultimately only if accountability is achieved. He said the US wants the guilty to be held accountable and not just an assurance that the crime won't be repeated.

Garcetti said US can't compromise on criminal activity, whether it comes from an enemy or a close friend. He didn't comment on whether US will pursue Yadav's extradition, as he said that can happen only after he is arrested. The ambassador also said there's too much at stake for India and the US to not get this case right. Asked about pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada, and the threats issued by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun from US soil, Garcetti said Washington takes real threats seriously.

Without accountability, justice won’t be served: US envoy

Eric Garcetti cited strong counter-terrorism cooperation with India, giving the example of Tahawwur Rana , the Mumbai attacks accused against whom, he said, India and the US have built an “airtight” extradition case.

“We have said two things from the beginning. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable from any country to another country. Certainly, unacceptable to us as Americans. That’s a red line, coming from an enemy or a closest friend. That’s our first responsibility, no matter who they are or what they say, to draw a line that murder-for-hire is illegal, as it is in every country,” said Garcetti.

“Second, we desire accountability. Not just say it won’t happen in the future but that those who were involved will be held accountable. That’s what our prosecutors are focused on. Our prosecutors are 100% not political. They exist in a different universe,” he added.

While expressing satisfaction with the work done so far by the Indian commission of inquiry, the ambassador said the US expects India would have criminal accountability for anyone who breaks the law. “We are very satisfied that a commission of inquiry was set up. The commission is going through a formal process, as we do on dozens of cases at any point in time. Every single day, the US and India formally ask for evidence, do joint investigations, make arrests, extraditions. We expect the same here,” said Garcetti.

On the Indian probe committee’s recent visit to the US, the ambassador said that in Washington, there were good, deep discussions on sharing of information. “We got good feedback from the Indian committee. Our law enforcement authorities were happy to share. But ultimately, I think, people in Washington will only be satisfied when accountability is achieved. Our prosecutors have put forward evidence that merits criminal charges and that evidence can and will be shared in a proper way with the Indian investigation and I’d expect that the Indian system, just like the American system, knows that murder-for-hire plots are illegal and will hold people accountable,” said the ambassador.

Garcetti didn’t predict if US authorities would seek Yadav’s extradition, but when asked if the Washington expects India to arrest him, he reiterated that American authorities expect accountability. “And that can happen probably in more than one way. Without accountability, justice won’t be served. I can’t speak about this individual’s criminal activities here in India but the prosecutors in the US clearly believe he was involved in a criminal conspiracy in America,” he said.

Asked about whether this issue might adversely impact the India-US relationship, given the speculation here that American authorities might be acting in tandem with the Canadians, the ambassador said, “There’s no way we can compromise criminal activity and the fundamental values that murder-for-hire is illegal and that crossing borders for international murder plots is against the law. Any country’s first responsibility is defending its people’s rights, whether it’s freedom of speech or the right not to get killed. But there’s too much at stake to not get this right. I’m optimistic that we can get this right. We are collaborating, even the most difficult conversations are happening. I am confident India and America can get it right, but it won’t be simple,” he said.

“I’m very proud of the work we are doing together in counterterrorism. We always tell our Indian friends to focus on crimes. And when we focus on crimes, as opposed to opinions, we are able to see progress. When an Indian consulate is attacked, we launch a criminal investigation. We take the safety and security of Indian diplomats very seriously. We take terrorist acts, not words but acts, incredibly seriously. And threats on people’s lives is a crime in the US. Nobody is protected in the US against those sorts of criminal acts. For instance, in the Tahawwur Rana case, we have done everything the right way. We have worked closely together and that can result in a victory against terrorism for both India and the US as friends,” said Garcetti.

On whether Rana could be extradited soon, he said there’s only one step left which is appeal to the Supreme Court . “I’ll leave it to the legal experts, but everybody says this is airtight, done correctly and it would be very surprising if he were to make one more appeal. And, by the way, that appeal doesn’t guarantee anything. Every court has so far upheld the work that India and the US are doing together on this extradition,” he said.

On charges against Yadav, Garcetti also said that in the American system, a politician or even the White House doesn’t pick up the phone and tell the prosecutor to bring charges or not. “That’s an independent decision based on the prosecutors’ belief in the evidence,” he said.