📷 Image Credits: NDTV
Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the United States. Gupta, 52, was arrested last year in Czech Republic based on charges of conspiring to assassinate Pannun. He is currently being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn and is set to appear before a federal court in New York on Monday. The extradition of Gupta comes amidst a speculation of Indian government involvement in the alleged plot. Federal prosecutors claim that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid $15,000 in advance.
The Washington Post was the first to report Gupta’s extradition, stating that he arrived in New York over the weekend. The extradition was carried out quietly, with Gupta expected to appear in court within a day of his arrival in the US. Gupta’s legal representative, Rohini Musa, has argued that her client is being unfairly prosecuted and there is no concrete evidence linking him to the assassination plot. In response to the allegations, India has initiated an investigation and denied any involvement in the case.
The extradited Indian national’s case has gained significant international attention. The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to discuss the matter during his visit to New Delhi for the annual ICET dialogue. The issue of Gupta’s extradition is likely to be raised by Sullivan before his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case has brought to light complex diplomatic nuances between the US and India surrounding the conspiracy allegations.
