A new twist has come in the case of conspiracy to murder alleged Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
A New York court has asked for documentary evidence from the US government. The court has ordered the US government to respond to a motion filed by Nikhil Gupta’s lawyers, seeking documentary evidence related to the allegations against him.
Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta has been accused by US officials of conspiring to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
“On January 4, 2024, defense counsel filed a motion to subpoena all documents related to the allegations,” U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero said in the order dated January 8. It requested that the court pass an order directing the government to provide the relevant documents to the defense counsel. “This Court directs the Government to file a reply to the motion to produce relevant documentary evidence within three days of the date of this order.”
This order of the court is being considered as a blow to the American government. Actually, Nikhil Gupta is currently lodged in the jail of Czech Republic.
America is making full efforts for Nikhil’s extradition. If the American lawyers are unable to present documentary evidence regarding the allegations, then Nikhil’s extradition may be in danger.
In November last year, the US Justice Department had claimed in a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Manhattan that an Indian official was working with Indian national Nikhil Gupta in a foiled plot to kill Pannu.
Matthew G. Olsen, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with ‘hiring a hitman’ for Pannu’s murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
US officials claim that 52-year-old Gupta was involved in a conspiracy to kill Khalistani Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. Pannu holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.
The family had recently said in a petition filed in the Supreme Court of India that businessman Nikhil Gupta had gone to Czech Republic on a trip.
He was illegally detained at Prague Airport on 30 June and held in solitary confinement for approximately 100 days. The petition also alleged that Gupta’s arrest was not done as per the rules and there were many irregularities.
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