Arrested for Foiled Plot to Kill Gurpatwant Pannun, Nikhil Gupta Approaches SC

The petition claims that Gupta’s arrest in Czech Republic was illegal and that his religious beliefs were violated.

The US claimed that in May 2023, an alleged Indian government staffer recruited Nikhil Gupta to arrange the assassination of Pannun on US soil and in exchange, would assist in securing the dismissal of a criminal case against Gupta.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Nikhil Gupta, an accused who was charged by the United States Attorney's Office in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, reported LiveLaw.

The US claimed that in May 2023, an alleged Indian government staffer recruited Nikhil Gupta to arrange the assassination of Pannun on US soil and in exchange, would assist in securing the dismissal of a criminal case against Gupta.

52-year-old Nikhil Gupta (also known as Nick) was reportedly involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking and booked under charges of murder-for-hire.

Due to the bilateral extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic, the US Attorney's office said that Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on 30 June at the US’ request.

The Petition 

The habeas corpus petition seeks intervention of the Indian government to release him from prison in the Czech Republic, alleging that he was subjected to forced consumption of beef and pork during his detention in Czech custody, a direct violation of his religious beliefs, the report added.

The petition further alleges that Gupta’s detention in the Czech Republic is illegal, as there was “no formal arrest and that the detention was at the instance of certain US agents.” 

According to the US' indictment, he, along with others known and unknown, were charged with murder-for-hire conspiracy and murder-for-hire for working “together to carry out a plot directed from India to hire hitmen to assassinate the Victim in the US.”

What Did the Court Say?

Initially, the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti expressed their lack of inclination to entertain the petition and observed that Gupta must approach the “concerned court” for relief, LiveLaw reported.

"This is an extremely sensitive matter for any Ministry to come in. It's for them to decide...If there's any violation of any law or anything, you'll have to go to the court concerned..." Justice Khanna said.

Meanwhile, appearing for the petitioner, said that he is only pressing the relief for consular access from the Indian Embassy in the Czech Republic.

Posting the petition on 4 January 2024, Justice Khanna said that the bench has not had to time to read the petition in detail.