RADIO Prague International on Wednesday announced that the Czech Republic can extradite Indian national Nikhil Gupta to the US, where he faces charges of conspiring to assassinate a US citizen.
The Constitutional Court rejected the complaint filed by the businessman against the Prague High Court, which approved the extradition in January, the radio said.
The US citizen who was targetted is New York-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, 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 in response to a request by the US under an extradition treaty.
A final decision on Gupta’s extradition will be made by Justice Minister Pavel Blazek.
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.
