SC Denies Nikhil Gupta Consular Access in Pannun Murder Plot Case
The Supreme Court of India has declined to intervene in the case of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of conspiring to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June 2023 and faces charges in the U.S. for his alleged involvement in the plot. The plea filed by Gupta's family sought consular access, the right to legal representation, and the opportunity to contest his indictment and extradition. However, the Supreme Court emphasized the sensitivity of the matter and the need to respect the jurisdiction of the foreign court, stating that it is the Indian government's role to address these issues as per the Vienna Convention.
The allegations against Gupta involve an undercover federal agent in what was purportedly a murder-for-hire plot. While the U.S. Department of Justice contends that Gupta was recruited by an Indian government agent to carry out the assassination, India has denied such claims and has committed to investigating any substantive evidence provided concerning its alleged connection to the incident. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is looking into the serious nature of the allegations, which have arisen amidst similar claims by Canada of Indian operatives' involvement in the assassination of another Khalistani leader.
