Extradition of a 52-year-old Indian man Nikhil Gupta’s to the US was authorized by a Czech appeals court. US federal prosecutors had accused him of working with an Indian government official in an abortive attempt to kill New York-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The final decision on Gupta’s extradition rested with Justice Minister Pavel Blazek, as per a ministry spokesperson, reported Reuters.
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On June 30, the US requested the 52-year-old Indian national’s arrest in the Czech Republic, citing his alleged involvement in the plot to assassinate Pannun.
Gupta is facing charges from US federal authorities related to murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, each of which carries a potential 10-year jail sentence.
Gupta’s defense, as reported by Czech news website Seznam Zprávy, hinges on a case of mistaken identity, asserting that he is not the individual sought by the US authorities and labelling the case as politically motivated.
Gupta is facing charges from US federal authorities related to murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, each of which carries a potential 10-year jail sentence.
The Justice Ministry spokesperson has indicated that the final say now rests with Justice Minister Pavel Blazek, who will make a determination once all parties have received the court’s decision. However, the timeline for this decision remains uncertain.
Gupta was charged on November 20 by the US Justice Department for his involvement in the alleged murder plot.
