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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthFebruary 1967

Age58 Years (as of 2025)

BirthplaceKhankot Village, Amritsar, Punjab, India

ProfessionLawyer

NationalityAmerican

FamilyParents deceased; brother Mangwant Singh; two siblings; paternal cousin Diljit Singh Pannun (deceased)

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Biography

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a U.S.-based lawyer and the founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Born in Punjab, India, he moved to the United States after his学历

Early life and background
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was born in February 1967 in Khankot village near Amritsar, Punjab, India. He completed his schooling in Punjab and went on to study law at Punjab University. After finishing his education, Pannun relocated to the United States, where he established his legal career and later became an American national.

Family and personal details
Pannun came from a family with ties to public service; his father, Mohinder Singh Pannun, worked for the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board and is deceased, and his mother, Amarjit Kaur, is also deceased. He has two siblings and a brother named Mangwant Singh who emigrated to the U.S. with him. A paternal cousin, Diljit Singh Pannun, served in diplomatic roles including as High Commissioner to Ghana and Ambassador to Madagascar.

Career
Trained as an attorney, Pannun began practicing law in the United States. In October 2007 he founded Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in New York and served as its legal advisor. Under his leadership SFJ pursued litigation and campaigns related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and other matters affecting the Sikh community.

SFJ filed lawsuits in U.S. courts in the early 2010s against Indian political figures, including cases targeting Kamal Nath and Sonia Gandhi that were ultimately dismissed for lack of jurisdiction or for failing to state viable claims. The organization also filed a complaint in 2014 accusing former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh of involvement in financing groups that suppressed Sikhs during the 1990s.

Pannun and SFJ moved beyond litigation into political campaigns and activist initiatives. In 2015 SFJ campaigned for the release of Jagtar Singh Hawara. In 2018 Pannun announced plans to coordinate a separation referendum dubbed Referendum 2020 across several countries, and indicated intentions to establish a presence in Lahore to assist voter registration. SFJ also organized public appeals and rewards linked to political acts and protests, and issued public statements on regional events and conflicts.

Government actions and allegations
The Indian government declared SFJ unlawful in July 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, stating that the organization supported violent extremism. In July 2020 the Government of India designated Pannun as a terrorist under the same act. Authorities in India have taken multiple actions connected to Pannun and SFJ: land owned by him in Khankot was attached in September 2020, his Chandigarh property was seized by the NIA in September 2023, and other properties have been subject to official notices.

Law enforcement and security developments
Indian agencies have linked SFJ to a range of violent incidents and plotted actions, and audio recordings obtained by the Punjab Police in 2022 were reported to contain discussions of sheltering suspects and plans for attacks on railway stations and other targets. Indian authorities requested an Interpol Red Corner Notice for Pannun in October 2022; Interpol declined the request citing insufficient evidence.

Pannun has denied responsibility for certain violent incidents and maintained that SFJ is engaged in peaceful activity, while at times offering financial support to people arrested after alleged SFJ-linked attacks. Indian police registered criminal complaints and FIRs over threats and messages attributed to Pannun, including an FIR in September 2023 related to threats against the ICC Cricket World Cup. Internationally, U.S. authorities have reported plots by third parties to target Pannun; in 2023 an indictment and related arrests described a conspiracy to kill him, and U.S. media reported allegations that an Indian agent had been involved in plotting against him.

Public profile
Pannun has been a prominent and polarizing figure in campaigns for Sikh causes, particularly those advocating for an independent Khalistan. He has publicly aligned with and expressed support for positions critical of the Indian government, and SFJ activities have included public rallies, statements supporting separatist goals, and offers of monetary rewards linked to provocative acts. His public statements have at times included direct threats or calls to action around political events.

Latest updates
In 2022 and 2023 Indian authorities connected SFJ and Pannun to a series of incidents and investigations, resulting in property seizures, FIRs, and official designations. In 2023 Pannun was reported missing briefly amid concerns for his safety. In 2024 U.S. reporting named an agent alleged to have been involved in an assassination plot against him. In 2024 and 2025 he continued to issue public statements on regional developments, including calls related to protests and commentary on India-Pakistan tensions.

Physical attributes
Pannun is described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.
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Recent Work

Founder and Legal Advisor of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)

Established SFJ in New York in October 2007 and led its campaigns, litigation, and political initiatives including Referendum 2020.

2007
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in 2007 and served as its legal advisor
  2. Filed multiple U.S. court actions related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
  3. Announced and coordinated international activism including Referendum 2020
  4. Designated a terrorist by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2020
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun born?

February 1967

What is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun known for?

Lawyer