Nikhil Gupta was granted three consular visits to India: MEA

Since his detention on June 30, Nikhil Gupta—named by the US Justice Department as a suspect in the abortive plot to kill Khalistani insurgent Gurupatwant Pannun—has been given three consular access passes in Prague.

The 52-year-old, also called Nick, is being held in the Pankrac jail in Prague. Since August, the US has been requesting his extradition. Given that Gupta is an Indian national, India has offered him consular help. “An Indian person is being held by Czech police while an extradition request to the United States is being processed. The family of Gupta has gone to the Supreme Court, and because the case is still pending, they would not comment more, said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokeswoman Arindam Bagchi. “We have received consular access at least three times,” Bagchi said.

In the meanwhile, the Prague Municipal Court has declared that Gupta’s extradition to the United States is lawful. The Czech justice ministry spokesman claims that the ruling of the municipal court in Prague has not yet become enforceable.

The Czech Justice Ministry released a statement that stated, “The Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic can confirm that Nikhil Gupta was apprehended and afterward taken into provisional custody in the Czech Republic at the request of the competent authority of the US-which subsequently submitted a request for his extradition.”

The US extradition request claims a plot to commit murder for pay, according to the Czech Justice Ministry as well. The Prague Municipal Public Prosecution Office submitted a request to declare the extradition acceptable after an initial inquiry. Online access to Czech court rulings is also restricted.

A writ suit filed by Gupta’s family claims that he was unlawfully held on June 30 at Prague Airport. “The petitioner argues from the outset that the circumstances surrounding his arrest were characterized by irregularities, as self-claimed US agents, rather than Czech authorities, conducted the apprehension without a formal arrest warrant.”

The petitioner also requests that the court examine the human rights breaches and the complex diplomatic complexities. They claim that Gupta’s interests are being protected by the court’s constitutional jurisdiction against his dangerous and purportedly unjustified imprisonment.

Prague court approves Gupta’s return to the United States
The Prague Municipal Court has ruled that Nikhil Gupta’s extradition to the United States is lawful. However, the Czech justice ministry’s spokeswoman claims that the ruling has not yet been enforceable.