New York: Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national charged by federal prosecutors for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil, is currently facing extradition proceedings in the Czech Republic, where he was arrested on June 30, 2023. Gupta’s lawyer, Jeff Chabrowe, filed a ‘Motion to Compel Production of Discovery’ on January 4 in the US District Court, Southern District of New York.
According to court documents, Gupta’s last visit to the United States was in 2017. His family has reported limited access to him, and there are claims of human rights violations, including extended solitary confinement, during his custody in Prague. Gupta’s attorney also mentioned a habeas petition filed on his behalf with the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic.
In response, the US government, represented by US Attorney Damian Williams, opposed Gupta’s motion for discovery. They argued that discovery materials would be provided promptly upon Gupta’s appearance and arraignment in the Southern District of New York. The government emphasized that Gupta had not presented any legal entitlement or justification for immediate discovery and stated that his motion should be denied.
The superseding indictment against Gupta, spanning 15 pages, outlines the charges and additional factual details related to the murder-for-hire plot. It alleges that Gupta arranged for a $15,000 cash payment to an undercover officer in Manhattan to facilitate the murder. Gupta is accused of discussing the plot extensively with undercover officers over several weeks, including video calls where he personally appeared.
The case is unfolding as a complex legal matter, involving extradition proceedings, claims of human rights violations, and a murder-for-hire plot with international implications. The next steps will depend on the court’s decisions regarding Gupta’s motion and the extradition process initiated by the US government.
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