In a setback for US prosecutors in the extradition of Nikhil Gupta, a New York Federal Judge on January 8 ordered them to produce documentary evidence supporting the “murder for hire" charge against him. Meanwhile, top sources in the Indian government said this was between the courts and not appropriate for them to reply.
The United States has charged Gupta, an Indian national, with a conspiracy to murder Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a US citizen and has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government. Gupta was arrested by the Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.
The order says that the government should file reply within three days of this order about the available evidence.
In what created a controversy, the US had made allegations that Pannun was on the target list of Indian killers and they hired people to assassinate him, but the bid was foiled.
A press release issued by the Office of Public Affairs of the US Department of Justice earlier had stated that Gupta was charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges have been built on a bare-bones indictment filed in mid-June and unsealed in July, which alleged that Gupta coordinated a $15,000 advance payment to a purported hitman’s associate. The document, however, gave no indication of who the intended victim was.
Additional details are contained in what is known as a superseding indictment, which has been unsealed and alleges murder-for-hire charges against Gupta, aka Nick, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.
Court documents had stated that earlier this year “an Indian government employee (CC-1), working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the victim)".
The press release had stated that Gupta was an associate of “CC-1" and had described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his “communications with CC-1 and others".
“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 Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training" in “battle craft" and “weapons", stated the press release.
With PTI Inputs
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