International Courant
The Czech Constitutional Courtroom has rejected an Indian man’s petition in opposition to his extradition to the US over an alleged plot to kill a US citizen in New York.
Nikhil Gupta has been accused by the US authorities of hiring a hitman to kill US-based Sikh separatist chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Mr. Gupta is in jail in Prague. A ultimate resolution on his extradition might be made by the nation’s justice minister.
The fees in opposition to Mr. Gupta carry a most jail sentence of 20 years.
In November 2023, US prosecutors charged Mr. Gupta with a plot to kill at the very least 4 Sikh separatists in North America, together with Mr. Pannun.
They stated Mr Gupta paid $100,000 (£79,000) in money to a hitman to kill Mr Pannun, a twin US-Canadian citizen, in New York.
However the hitman was truly an undercover federal agent, prosecutors stated.
Mr. Gupta was reportedly directed by an Indian authorities official who was not named or charged within the indictment.
India has labeled Mr Pannun a terrorist, a cost he denies and claims to be an activist who believes within the motion for Khalistan, or a separate Sikh homeland.
The White Home stated it has raised the alleged assassination plot with India on the highest ranges.
Indian officers distanced themselves from the plot, saying such actions have been in opposition to authorities coverage.
It additionally stated it had fashioned a committee to analyze the allegations in opposition to Mr Gupta.
In January, the Supreme Courtroom of India dominated turned down a plea by Mr. Gupta searching for his launch and serving to him get a good trial. The petition in India alleged that Mr. Gupta had been arrested by “self-appointed” US federal brokers and has but to obtain a good trial.
India’s highest court docket stated it will not intervene within the case, including that it was as much as the federal government to take motion.
