NEW DELHI: The Indian Supreme Court has instructed the family of Nikhil Gupta, the man accused of plotting to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to seek relief in a Czech court regarding allegations of religious and human rights violations. Gupta, arrested in Prague in June and awaiting extradition to the US, faces charges related to a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York.
In the court proceedings, the Supreme Court denied immediate relief and directed the petitioner, a family member identified as Mr X, to submit a copy to the government before scheduling the next hearing on January 4. Gupta’s petition expressed concerns about his safety and argued that his detention was “illegal.”
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the case for the Ministry of External Affairs, Justice Sanjiv Khanna emphasized that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction over arrests made in another country. He directed the petitioner to approach the court outside India.
Indian Govt Accused of Plots to Kill Sikh Separatist Leaders Abroad
The family urged the court to direct the Indian government to provide consular assistance to ensure a fair extradition hearing in Prague. India, distancing itself from the accusations, has pledged to conduct its investigation into the matter.
This development adds complexity to the relationship between the Narendra Modi government and the Joe Biden administration. It follows Canada’s claim of “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the June 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Justice confirmed Gupta’s detention and the US extradition request for conspiracy to commit “murder for hire.” While the Municipal Court in Prague ruled the extradition admissible, the decision is not yet legally binding.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice has charged Gupta with conspiring with an Indian government official, referred to as “CC-1,” to assassinate the Sikh separatist on American soil. If convicted, Gupta faces up to 20 years in prison. His family alleges multiple violations of fundamental rights and seeks India’s intervention in his extradition.
The petition also requests the appointment of an Indian advocate to represent Gupta in the Czech Republic and the US. In November, US prosecutors charged Gupta with a plot to kill at least four Sikh separatists, alleging he paid $100,000 in cash to an undercover federal agent posing as a hitman.
