The Ministry of Justice in the Czech Republic has officially acknowledged the arrest and provisional custody of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national. This legal action was executed at the request of the United States, which has leveled accusations against Gupta, asserting his involvement in an alleged 'murder for hire' scheme targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
According to Vladimir Repka, a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Justice, Gupta, aged 52, was apprehended in June of this year, based on the request of US authorities. The United States subsequently submitted an extradition request, alleging that, under the guidance of an undisclosed Indian government official, Gupta conspired to carry out the assassination of Pannun within the United States. The charges against Gupta include conspiracy to commit murder for hire, as outlined by US authorities.
The extradition request, officially filed by the US in August 2023, specifically cites conspiracy to commit murder for hire. After conducting preliminary investigations, the Municipal Public Prosecution Office in Prague has initiated the process to declare Gupta's extradition permissible. However, it's important to note that this decision is not yet legally binding.
The US Justice Department officially charged Gupta in connection with the alleged murder plot on November 20. In an official statement, US officials stated that "an Indian government employee, collaborating with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, orchestrated a plot to assassinate an attorney and political activist, who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City."
Gupta purportedly agreed to pay $100,000 to an assassin to carry out the killing, with an initial payment of $15,000 already made on June 9, 2023. However, the individual approached by Gupta for the assignment turned out to be a confidential source cooperating with US law enforcement.
The Indian government, characterizing the US charges as a "matter of concern" and "contrary to government policy," has announced an investigation, leading to the establishment of a high-level committee to address the issue.
