Pannun Murder Plot: US Court demands evidence to justify extradition plea for Nikhil Gupta from Czech Republic
Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian citizen entangled in an alleged plot to eliminate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. A federal judge in New York has recently taken a significant stride to ensure transparency in the evolving legal proceedings. The legal proceedings kicked off on January 4, 2024, when Gupta's legal team submitted a motion, urging the court to compel the release of discovery materials.
Responding promptly, US District Judge Victor Marrero, through a directive issued on January 8, instructed the government to provide a response to the motion within a concise three-day timeframe.
Judge Marrero stressed the critical need for a swift reply, stating, «In the Motion to Compel, defense counsel seeks discovery material from the Government. The Court hereby directs the government to file a reply to the Motion to Compel within three days of the date of this order.»
Gupta now grapples with charges put forth by US federal prosecutors, who accuse him of playing a pivotal role in orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot and participating in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Matthew G. Olsen, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, underscores the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that if proven, these charges could lead to Gupta facing a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.
According to the prosecution's narrative, Gupta is alleged to have collaborated with an individual linked to the Indian government to execute an unsuccessful plan to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist with dual citizenship in both the US and Canada. The sequence of events reached its peak with Gupta's apprehension by Czech
