Federal prosecutors allege that Nikhil Gupta employed a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Washington:

Indian nationwide Nikhil Gupta, who’s accused of being concerned in murder-for-hire plot towards a Sikh separatist, has been extradited from Czech Republic, media stories stated Sunday.

Gupta, 52, was arrested within the Czech Republic final yr on the request of the US authorities on fees of being concerned in a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He’s anticipated to be produced earlier than a federal courtroom in New York on Monday.

Gupta is at present lodged on the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, the place he’s listed as an inmate. The Washington Submit was the primary information outlet to report his extradition.

“Gupta, who had been detained within the Czech Republic, arrived in New York over the weekend, in line with folks conversant in the matter who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate delicate authorized proceedings. Sometimes, extradited defendants should seem in courtroom inside a day of their arrival within the nation,” the day by day stated.

Federal prosecutors allege that Gupta employed a hitman to kill Pannun and paid USD 15,000 upfront. They allege that an unnamed Indian authorities official was concerned in it.

Gupta’s extradition comes forward of the New Delhi go to of US Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan for the annual ICET dialogue. The difficulty is predicted to be raised by Sullivan earlier than his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

India has denied its involvement in such a case and has instituted an investigation into the allegations.

Gupta via his legal professional has denied the costs and has stated that he has been “unfairly charged”.

“Gupta’s legal professional, Rohini Musa, wrote in a petition to the Indian Supreme Court docket that her consumer is being unfairly prosecuted, saying there’s “nothing on report to hyperlink the Petitioner to the large alleged plot to assassinate the alleged sufferer,” The Washington Submit stated.

“Musa complained that Gupta acquired hostile authorized recommendation from a Czech government-appointed legal professional “below the undue affect of … U.S. Businesses” throughout the preliminary part of his detention. She stated India and the US had been “going forwards and backwards accountable one another for his or her international coverage,” the day by day reported.

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