Nikhil Gupta Extradited to US

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in murder-for-hire plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been extradited from the Czech Republic (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 24, Story 3). Gupta, 52, was arrested in Czechia last year at the request of the US govt. on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun. Posting a video on social media platform X , the Czechia Police wrote, ‘The foreigner suspected in the US of an assassination plot has been in the hands of the US judiciary since 14 Jun.’ It added that Gupta was ‘safely extradited from a Prague airport,’ posting video images with his face blurred being escorted onto a plane. Gupta is currently lodged at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is listed as an inmate. On 17 Jun, Gupta was produced before a federal court in New York; he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges. ‘We will pursue his defense vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures,’ said Gupta's attorney, Jeffrey Chabrowe, who described the case as 'complex' for both India and the US. Earlier, 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 alleged plot to assassinate the alleged victim.’ While the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is in Delhi to discuss the removal of trade barriers, five influential US Senators urged Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to deliver a ‘strong diplomatic response’ to hold the Indian govt. accountable for its alleged involvement in the foiled assassination attempt of a US citizen.