Pannun 'assassination' plot: How accused Nikhil Gupta was nabbed in Prague, handed over to US days before indictment
India Express reported. This was days before the indictment was filed in a New York court. According to the the American indictment, the alleged plot to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil began in May, with a text message between an Indian security official and Nikhil Gupta.
The prosecutors described Gupta as an Indian national involved in drugs and weapons trafficking, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, the senior official reportedly wanted Gupta to orchestrate the target's murder, in exchange for getting criminal charges against him in India dropped. Now, a recent report by the Indian Express shared a fresh information in the case.
It said Gupta (52) was at Prague airport when Czech authorities arrested and detained him on June 30. He was said to be in the Czech Republic for "business and tourism" purposes. However, "the Czech National Drug authorities were tipped off due to his alleged past in drug trafficking," the report said.
Nikhil was then detained by the Czech authorities. ALSO READ: What Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun's failed murder attempt means for India-US ties? Later, the authorities informed the Indian embassy in Prague about one Nick Gupta, an Indian national who had been detained on the basis of a US court order. According to the report, the Indian embassy was unaware of the antecedents of Gupta at that time.
Therefore, the embassy followed procedures related to consular assistance for any Indian national. They got Gupta's passport details for authentication of his identity and nationality. This is a routine process.
Read more on livemint.com
