INDIAN national Nikhil Gupta, who faces charges of conspiring to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, on Monday pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court.
Gupta is scheduled to appear in court again on June 28.
He was brought to New York on Friday after Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek approved his extradition.
Blazek tweeted on Monday: “Pursuant to my decision of 6/3/2024, on Friday 6/14/2024, Nikhil Gupta, an Indian citizen, was extradited to the US for criminal prosecution on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire with intent to cause death.”
Pannun is the legal counsel of the Khalistan group, Sikhs For Justice, that is banned in India. Gupta’s indictment was announced last year by New York prosecutors. He faces up to 20 years in prison. He was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 last year in response to a request by the US under an extradition treaty.
Last November, Gupta (aka “Nick”), 52, was charged with murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun in New York City. The charges were contained in a superseding indictment unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The indictment also noted: “On or about June 18, 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was an associate of the Victim [Pannun], and like the Victim, was a leader of the Sikh separatist movement and an outspoken critic of the Indian government. On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, Gupta told the UC that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.” Gupta added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing the Victim.”
The indictment states that CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.
According to BBC, after Gupta waived the reading of his indictment, he was asked by Judge James Cott to enter his plea. His lawyer, Jeff Chabrowe, said “not guilty” on his behalf.
Prosecutors asked that Gupta be held in a detention centre until his trial. Gupta’s lawyer said they would file a bail application at a later date.
BBC said that Gupta’s lawyer complained to the judge that his client had not been provided a vegetarian meal since he arrived at a Brooklyn detention facility and so he had not been able to eat. Gupta also needed to be allowed to pray, the lawyer said. The judge asked Gupta’s lawyer to speak to him again on Tuesday if those issues had not been resolved.
IANS reported that Chabrowe stated: “We will pursue his defense vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures.” He emphasized the importance of not rushing to conclusions, highlighting the complexities surrounding the case. “This is a complex matter for both our countries. It is extremely important that we refrain from rushing to conclusions so early in the process,” he added.
“This is a matter that may test the diplomatic relationship between India and the US, depending on the court’s findings,” Chabrowe said. “Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light.”
Gupta is scheduled to be back in court on June 28.
MEANWHILE, in Canada, Indian nationals Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, and Amandeep Singh, 22, who have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection to the assassination of Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar, will be back in a Surrey court on June 25.
Nijjar was assassinated on June 18, 2023, in a parking lot of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara where he served as president.
Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh, were arrested in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 3, and transferred to Surrey. Amandeep Singh’s arrest was announced by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on May 11. He was already in custody for unrelated firearms charges by Ontario’s Peel Regional Police. He had resided in Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford.
