Nikhil Gupta

Some Lesser Known Facts About Nikhil Gupta

• Nikhil Gupta is an Indian citizen who faced charges from the US Justice Department on 30 June 2023, related to his alleged involvement in the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader in New York and also a US citizen of Indian origin.

• As per the statement from the US Department, Nikhil Gupta was accused of participating in international activities involving drugs and weapons.

• In May 2023, he was allegedly recruited by an associate to organize the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin and a Sikh separatist leader in New York.

• Nikhil sought assistance from someone he believed to be a criminal partner to hire a hitman in New York, but both the individual and the supposed hitman were cooperating with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).

• By June, Nikhil obtained information about the target and shared it with the presumed hitman. The press release also indicated that Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada was another target, along with several others.

• On 30 June 2023, when Nikhil travelled from India to the Czech Republic, Czech authorities arrested him based on the extradition agreement between the United States and the Czech Republic.

• The press release also mentioned the involvement of another individual from India, collaborating with Nikhil and others in different countries, in the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is an attorney and political activist residing in New York City.

• As of 2023, Nikhil is in a prison in Prague, waiting to be extradited to the United States.

• A family member, Mr. X, filed a petition urging the top court to intervene and involve India in the case. The petition claimed that Gupta’s detention was deemed “illegal,” expressing concerns about his safety as a law-abiding citizen.

• Mr X, in the petition, highlighted that Gupta, a Hindu and vegetarian, was allegedly forced to consume beef and pork against his religious beliefs while in Czech custody. The petition also argued that Gupta was not allowed to communicate with his family in India, denied consular access, and was prevented from seeking legal representation.

• The court acknowledged the matter’s sensitivity to the Ministry of External Affairs. Justice Sanjiv Khanna initially suggested that the petitioner address the issue in a foreign court, emphasizing that the Supreme Court of India does not have authority over arrests in another country.