Got consular access to man arrested for planning to kill Pannun: Government
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that Indian officials thrice obtained consular access to Nikhil Gupta.
Who has been indicted by US authorities over an alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and is currently lodged in a jail in the Czech Republic.
The 52-year-old Indian national was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 at the request of the US authorities, who accused him of being involved in the planning to kill Pannun, who is an American citizen.
In a plea to the Supreme Court of India earlier this month, Gupta’s family alleged that he was denied consular access, the right to contact his family in India, and the freedom to seek legal representation.
The family had also alleged that Czech authorities had not sent any correspondence to the Indian embassy or Indian authorities in the Czech Republic or in India regarding the arrest and detention of Gupta.
The family had also requested the top court to direct an Indian envoy in the European country to find out about the status of the case. However, the Supreme Court directed the family to approach a court in the Czech Republic.
Gupta was charged on November 20 by the US Justice Department for his involvement in the alleged murder plot. According to US officials, Gupta had agreed to pay $100,000 to an assassin to carry out the killing, with an advance payment of $15,000 already made on June 9, 2023. However, the individual he contacted for the hitman turned out to be a confidential source working with US law enforcement.
Terming the charges a “matter of concern” and contrary to “government policy”, New Delhi has announced a high-level probe into the allegations.
Meanwhile, US officials have sought the extradition of Nikhil Gupta, who is currently lodged in solitary confinement in the Czech Republic.