Indian family accused of US murder plot petitions the Supreme Court
New Delhi: Nikhil Gupta, the man suspected of working with a government official to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a resident of the United States, has petitioned the Supreme Court through his family, requesting that the Indian government get involved in extradition proceedings that the US has mimicked.
According to the petition, he is being unlawfully held in Prague and, as a law-abiding citizen, he fears for his life. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter today.
The Indian citizen, Mr. Gupta, is incarcerated in the Czech Republic as a result of the US government’s request for his detention and extradition. The extradition request has been granted preliminary approval.
The 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta is charged with attempting to hire a hitman to kill Pannun, a terrorist from Khalistani who is dual Canadian and American citizen. The ‘hitman’ was a US government agent operating secretly.
If found guilty of the murder-for-hire and conspiracy allegations, he could serve a 20-year prison sentence. Additionally, one Indian government employee—whose name is still being withheld—has been charged by the US.
According to US federal authorities, Mr. Gupta and the Indian government employee—whom they have code-named CC-1—started exchanging phone calls and emails in May during which the latter requested that the former arrange the murder. Mr. Gupta was offered assistance in getting a criminal case against him in India dropped in exchange. In person, the two met in Delhi, according to reports from the US.
Following CC-1’s orders, Mr. Gupta is said to have asked a person he thought was a criminal associate—but who was really a confidential informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration—for help in hiring a hitman to assassinate Pannun in New York City.
Afterwards, CC-1 made an agreement with the undercover agent to pay $100,000 for the death, which was purportedly arranged by Mr. Gupta, who was called a “international narcotics trafficker”.
The External Affairs Ministry stated in response to the accusations that “India takes such inputs seriously, since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments are already examining the issue.” According to the administration, a high-level investigation group has been constituted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that his administration “looks forward to the results” of the investigation, after the White House’s appeal for Delhi to hold those responsible for this scheme accountable.
