US extradites Indian suspect in Khalistani assassination plot

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused by US authorities in the plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

| Updated: 17 June, 2024 2:49 pm IST

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused by US authorities in the plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the United States.

NEW DELHI: Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused by US authorities in the plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the United States. The 52-year-old is now detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, after being held in Prague since June last year.

Media reports state that “Nikhil Gupta, who had been detained in the Czech Republic, arrived in New York over the weekend, according to sources familiar with the matter speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive legal proceedings. Extradited defendants usually appear in court within a day of their arrival in the country.”

US prosecutors allege that Nikhil Gupta helped plan Pannun’s murder for an Indian official, hiring a hitman and paying $15,000 upfront. The US shared this information about the official’s involvement with India, leading to an investigation committee being formed.

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India has denied involvement in the case and has conducted its investigation into the allegations. Nikhil Gupta, along with his lawyer Rohini Musa, denies the charges, claiming unfair treatment.

Nikhil Gupta’s extradition coincided with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi for the annual ICET dialogue. Sullivan is expected to discuss this issue with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval.

The extradition case has strained diplomatic relations, highlighting tensions and disagreements over alleged attempts to harm pro-Khalistani individuals in the USA and Canada. This situation has implications for India’s international standing. The Indian government has consistently denied any involvement in these incidents.

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In 2023, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accused “agents working for the Indian government” of being involved in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination, another pro-Khalistani figure. Similarly, US authorities revealed an Indian official’s link to a plot to harm Pannun, who holds citizenship in both the US and Canada. In response, Pannun dismissed Nikhil Gupta as just a “foot soldier.”