Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being part of a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist, has been extradited from the Czech Republic, according to media reports on Sunday.
The 52-year-old Gupta was detained in the Czech Republic last year at the behest of the US government for allegedly plotting to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gupta is set to appear before a federal court in New York on Monday.
Currently, Gupta is held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is listed as an inmate. The Washington Post was the first to report on his extradition.
“Gupta, who had been detained in the Czech Republic, arrived in New York over the weekend, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive legal proceedings. Typically, extradited defendants must appear in court within a day of their arrival in the country,” the newspaper stated.
Federal prosecutors claim Gupta hired a hitman to eliminate Pannun and paid an advance of USD 15,000. They also allege involvement from an unnamed Indian government official.
Gupta’s extradition coincides with the upcoming visit of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to New Delhi for the annual ICET dialogue, during which the issue is expected to be discussed with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
India has denied any involvement in the plot and has initiated an investigation into the allegations.
Through his attorney, Gupta has denied the charges, asserting he has been “unfairly charged.”
“Gupta’s attorney, Rohini Musa, wrote in a petition to the Indian Supreme Court that her client is being unfairly prosecuted, saying there is “nothing on record to link the Petitioner to the massive alleged plot to assassinate the alleged victim,” The Washington Post reported.
“Musa complained that Gupta received adverse legal advice from a Czech government-appointed attorney “under the undue influence of … U.S. Agencies” during the initial phase of his detention. She said India and the United States were “going back and forth to blame each other for their foreign policy,” the daily reported.
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