Indian Man Extradited To US Over Assassination Plot

An Indian man accused of plotting to kill an American citizen in New York has been extradited to the United States, according to the Washington Post.

Nikhil Gupta was charged by U.S. authorities last year for allegedly attempting to hire a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader based in the U.S.

Gupta was detained in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the U.S. and imprisoned in Prague.

Last month, his appeal against extradition to the U.S. was dismissed by the Czech Constitutional Court.

Prison records indicate he is currently incarcerated at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn.

He is scheduled to appear in a federal court in New York on Monday. If convicted, he will face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

In November, U.S. prosecutors accused Gupta of plotting to kill at least four Sikh separatists in North America, including Pannun.

Prosecutors stated that Gupta paid $100,000 in cash to a hitman to carry out the assassination of Pannun. The hitman, however, turned out to be an undercover federal agent.

U.S. authorities claimed that Gupta was acting under the direction of an unnamed Indian government official who was not charged in the indictment.

The Indian government denied any involvement in the alleged assassination plot.

Pannun, at the center of the alleged U.S. murder plot, holds dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship and resides in New York.

He serves as general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a U.S.-based organisation supporting the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent homeland for Sikhs, who comprise about 2% of India’s population.

The Indian government designated Pannun a terrorist in 2020, a label he rejects.

He was also associated with Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was shot and killed in Canada last year.

Nijjar’s murder strained India-Canada relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement, which India denied.

In November, the White House stated it had raised concerns about the alleged assassination plot against Pannun with Indian officials at the highest levels.

Indian officials denied any connection to the plot, asserting that such actions were contrary to government policy, and stated they had formed a committee to investigate the allegations against Gupta.

In January, India’s Supreme Court rejected Gupta’s plea for assistance in securing his release and ensuring a fair trial. The plea claimed Gupta was arrested by “self-claimed” U.S. federal agents and had not yet received a fair trial.

India’s highest court declined to intervene, stating it was the government’s responsibility to take action.

Follow us on: