India gets consular access to Nikhil Gupta in Czech Republic
India received consular access on three occasions to Nikhil Gupta, who has been in a jail in the Czech capital of Prague following the US accusing him of involvement in a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said India is extending necessary consular assistance to Gupta.
«An Indian national is currently in the custody of the Czech authorities pending a request for extradition to the US.
We have received consular access at least on three occasions,» Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing in response to a question on the case involving Gupta.
«We are extending necessary consular assistance as per requirement,» he said.
Gupta, 52, has been accused by the US government of involvement in conspiring to kill US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
His family approached the Supreme Court last week pleading for issuing direction to the Indian government to intervene in the extradition proceedings and ensuring a fair trial in the case.
«The family of this person has gone to our Supreme Court and this is a process that is going on in the Supreme Court. I do not think it will be appropriate for us to comment on issues like jurisdiction.
We will wait for what the Supreme Court has to say,» Bagchi said.
The US federal prosecutors have charged Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.
India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate allegations.
The external affairs ministry spokesperson also said that India has taken the allegations seriously, adding «inputs» have been provided by the US side and a high-level inquiry committee has
