Amid the ongoing turmoil over the alleged murder attempt on pro-Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic has confirmed the arrest and provisional custody of he accused in the case Nikhil Gupta. As per media reports, the Czech government's action came at the behest of the United States, the country which has accused Gupta of being involved in a 'murder for hire' plot targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
US files extradition request
According to Vladimir Repka, a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Justice, 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta was apprehended at the request of the United States, which later submitted an extradition request.
As per media reports, the extradition request filed by the US cited conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
Following preliminary investigations, the Municipal Public Prosecution Office in Prague moved to declare Gupta's extradition admissible. However, this decision is not yet legally binding.
US govt accuses Gupta
Back on Novemner 20, the US Justice Department pressed the charge on Gupta of being involved in the alleged murder plot of Sikh leader Gurpawant Singh Pannun.
According to the officials, "An Indian government employee, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian-origin residing in New York City".
Gupta had agreed to pay $100,000 to an assassin to carry out the killing, with an advance payment of $15,000 already made on June 9, 2023. However, the individual he contacted for the hitman turned out to be a confidential source working with US law enforcement.
