“Forced To Eat Pork, Beef in Custody”, Claims Family Of Nikhil Gupta Arrested In US Murder Plot
The family asserts that Gupta's detention in the Czech Republic was unlawful, and he is now facing extradition to the United States, where he is alleged to have committed the crime.
Nikhil Gupta, who is accused of conspiring to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a separatist and American-Canadian citizen, has had his family file a petition in the Supreme Court of India, seeking the intervention of the Indian government in securing his release from a prison in the Czech Republic. The family asserts that Gupta’s detention in the Czech Republic was unlawful, and he is now facing extradition to the United States, where he is alleged to have committed the crime. During his incarceration, Gupta claims to have been compelled to consume meat, which goes against his religious beliefs.
The Supreme Court hearing, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed to January 4th. No order has been issued by the court regarding Gupta’s family petition, emphasizing the gravity of the matter and the necessity to assess the extent of government intervention. The petitioner’s lawyer has urged the court to request a status report on the actions taken by the government.
The Ministry of Justice in the Czech Republic has confirmed that Nikhil Gupta was apprehended and placed in provisional custody at the request of the U.S. competent authority, which subsequently sought his extradition in August 2023 on charges of conspiracy to murder for hire. The Municipal Court in Prague, after a preliminary investigation, declared the extradition of Mr. Gupta to the USA as permissible, but the decision is not yet legally binding.
The petition alleges that Gupta’s troubles began when “individuals who claimed to be law enforcement officers forcefully made the petitioner sit in an unidentified black SUV… took his phones… attached a device…” The petition highlights that the arrest deviated from the norm after Gupta had cleared entry formalities outside Vaclav Havel Airport, making the SUV’s three-hour questioning illegal under international and municipal law.
The petition disputes the authenticity of the Interpol Red Corner Notice against Gupta, arguing that he was not stopped at previous airports, including Delhi and Turkey. The petitioner claims that Gupta was threatened by “American agents” before being handed over to local authorities and subjected to a medical test involving blood and biometrics, with charges only disclosed the following morning.
The petition contends that Gupta was advised by a defense attorney appointed by Czech authorities to consent to be taken to New York, a move alleged to be against Gupta’s best interests and under the undue influence of U.S. agencies keen on expediting his extradition.
During the initial days of imprisonment, Gupta was purportedly offered only pork and beef, contravening his Hindu vegetarian beliefs. Despite informing authorities, Gupta alleges he was denied vegetarian food, violating basic human rights. He also claims restricted contact with his family, being told by local Prague authorities that it would be possible only after approval from U.S. authorities.
The first meeting with an Indian official reportedly took place on July 19, almost 20 days after Gupta’s “illegal” detention, and family contact was only permitted after the intervention of the Prague High Court.
Parvasi Media Group