According to US accusations, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, plotted with another Indian citizen to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Kurt M. Campbell, the US Deputy Secretary of State, told the press on Wednesday (June 25) that the Indian government has been compelled by this claim to investigate “institutional reforms… necessary to address” such possible conspiracies.
Gupta, 53, was detained by Czech authorities in June of last year and was extradited to the United States this month.
The US has charged Gupta with arranging the hiring of a hitman—who happened to be an undercover federal agent from the US—in collusion with an Indian official. According to evidence the US has claimed to possess, the staff member requested that Gupta arrange the murder.
The employee promised to dismiss a criminal prosecution against Nikhil Gupta in Gujarat in exchange.
When Gupta appeared in a federal court in New York, he submitted a “not guilty” plea.
His attorney told news agency PTI that “this is a complex matter for both our countries and hinted at the existence of new evidence… that may cast government allegations in a new light” ahead of his arraignment.
Nikhil Gupta has not yet submitted a request for consular access to Indian authorities, which is a privilege granted to any Indian national traveling overseas.
“We are looking into the matter… to see what can be done (and) are in touch with his family,” India stated.
Notably, Gupta may spend up to 20 years in prison under current US legislation.
Gupta has before claimed that he had been wrongly charged through his legal counsel.
On behalf of Nikhil Gupta, a family member (who will only be known as “X”) submitted a plea to the Indian Supreme Court in December. Multiple human rights breaches while his incarceration in a Czech prison are alleged in the petition.
Although it has labeled Pannun a terrorist, India has distanced itself from the scheme.
The charges are concerning, according to the External Affairs Ministry from last year, which also stated that a high-level investigation has been launched by the government.
The ministry declared, “Ordinating such assassinations violates our government’s policies.”