Pannun murder plot: Nikhil Gupta forced to eat beef and kept in solitary confinement for 100 days, says family’s plea in Supreme Court
In November this year, US authorities charged Nikhil Gupta for his alleged role in a now-foiled plot to assassinate New York-based Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
New Delhi: The family of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian businessman indicted by the US for his role in an alleged plot to assassinate New York-based Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has filed a plea in the Supreme Court of India, claiming that the 52-year-old was arrested without a warrant and was forced by Czech authorities to consume beef and pork.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Gupta was arrested and detained by Czech authorities on June 30, 2023, under the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.
Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the United States in connection with his participation in the plot to kill the person, they said.
A petition filed in the Supreme Court by a relative on behalf of the Delhi-based businessman claims that Gupta was not allowed to contact his family in India and that the arrest violated his fundamental rights.
‘Arrested without warrant, forced to eat beef and pork’
In the petition to the apex court, Gupta alleged that he was being held by alleged US agents instead of local authorities in Czechoslovakia and that no formal arrest warrant had been filed.
“From the outset, petitioner alleges that the circumstances surrounding his arrest were characterized by irregularities, with no formal arrest warrant being filed, and that the arrest was carried out by self-appointed US agents rather than by local Czech authorities,” the petition alleges.
It says Gupta has been in solitary confinement for more than 100 days.
“No warrant of arrest was shown to the petitioner during the initial detention. Instead, he found himself in the custody of individuals claiming to represent American interests.”
The plea alleged that Gupta, a devout Hindu and vegetarian, was forced to eat beef and pork during his detention in Czechoslovakia.
“The petitioner, a devout Hindu and vegetarian, alleges that during his detention in Czech custody he was subjected to forced consumption of beef and pork, in direct violation of his religious beliefs.”
Denied right to contact family in India
The petition further stated, “Petitioner alleges that he has been denied consular access, the right to contact his family in India and the freedom to seek legal assistance.”
“Nikhil Gupta is a law-abiding and peaceful citizen of the Republic of India, residing in New Delhi, India, along with my family consisting of his mother, wife and two grown children.”
“The petitioner is currently in custody in Prague and faces extradition to the United States. That the recent leaks of confidential information about the petitioner’s case in New York, USA and the irresponsible reporting thereof pose an imminent threat to the life and well-being of the petitioner in the Czech Republic and to his family in Delhi, India. ”
“There have been numerous procedural violations that endanger the fundamental rights and even the most basic human rights of the petitioner.”
“The petitioner is a middle class businessman who runs a consultancy firm engaged in excavation and import-export business.”
Nikhil Gupta and the Pannun ‘murder plot’
In November this year, US authorities charged Nikhil Gupta for his alleged role in a now-foiled plot to assassinate New York-based Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil.
Gupta has been charged by authorities with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. If convicted, both charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and will run concurrently under U.S. law, which could mean a possible 20-year prison sentence if convicted, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G. Olsen had said.
A $100,000 hit
According to authorities, Gupta agreed to pay $100,000 to an assassin and kill the Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.
“On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an employee to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC in Manhattan, New York, as a down payment for the murder,” the indictment said.
The indictment did not name the US citizen, but The Financial Times reported last week, citing unnamed sources, that US authorities had plotted to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun foiled and had issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns. it was involved in the plot.
“As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to murder here in New York City an American citizen of Indian descent who has publicly advocated the creation of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethno-religious minority group in India,” the statement said. United States Attorney. for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams had said in a statement.