According to his lawyer, Jeffrey Chabrowe, the murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta of India are a "complicated matter" for both India and the US. He vowed to aggressively defend Gupta, 52, who was taken into custody in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government. Pannun is a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
Gupta was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday.
“This is a complex matter for both our countries,” Chabrowe remarked prior to Gupta’s arraignment in a federal court.
“It is extremely important that we refrain from rushing to conclusions so early in the process. Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light,” Chabrowe said. he added.
“We will pursue his defence vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures,” he added.
He is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan federal court Monday.
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek noted in a post on X that Gupta had been extradited, citing, "On the basis of my decision on 3 June, Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, suspected of conspiracy to commit murder for hire with intent to cause death was extradited to the US for criminal prosecution on Friday, 14 June.".
Currently, Gupta is being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is registered as an inmate.
US federal prosecutors claimed that Gupta acted at the behest of an unnamed Indian government official. India has denied any wrongdoing and has launched a high-level probe into the allegations.
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