Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national suspected by U.S. authorities in an alleged assassination plot, has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the United States. The extradition follows accusations that Gupta conspired with an Indian government official to target Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent advocate for Sikh sovereignty based in the United States.
Gupta, aged 52, arrived in Prague from India last June and was subsequently apprehended by Czech authorities. After a Czech court dismissed his plea to avoid extradition, he was transferred to U.S. custody. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed Gupta’s current detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, as indicated by the federal Bureau of Prisons website.
The U.S. Justice Department declined immediate comment on Gupta’s extradition, while Jeffrey Chabrowe, Gupta’s U.S.-based attorney, has not issued a statement. Czech authorities have not responded publicly to Gupta’s transfer.
According to U.S. federal prosecutors, Gupta’s alleged involvement in the plot underscores ongoing tensions related to Sikh separatism. Pannun, who holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, advocates for an independent Sikh state in northern India known as Khalistan.
In response to Gupta’s extradition, Pannun described Nikhil Gupta as a “foot soldier” acting under senior Indian government officials, allegedly directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian authorities have vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged assassination attempt against Pannun.
The case has strained diplomatic relations between Western nations and India, amid assertions by Canada and the U.S. of Indian government links to similar incidents involving Sikh separatist figures. Both countries have expressed concerns about India’s stance on Sikh separatist groups operating outside its borders, viewing them as potential security threats.
India’s government has stated it does not support such plots and has pledged to investigate any security issues raised by Washington and other Western capitals.
While Washington has expressed initial satisfaction with India’s response, it has stressed the need for further actions to comprehensively address the allegations.
Gupta’s extradition to the U.S. marks a significant development in this complex case, highlighting ongoing sensitivities surrounding Sikh separatism and the broader implications for international relations between India and Western nations.