An Indian citizen accused of serving to to plan the homicide of a U.S. citizen in New York Town has been extradited to face trial, government mentioned Monday.
Nikhil Gupta, 52, pleaded no longer accountable in a Long island federal courtroom after being extradited from the Czech Republic and touchdown in the United States on Friday. He’s charged with looking to rent any individual to kill Sikh separatist chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a twin US-Canadian citizen.
“This murder-for-hire plot — allegedly orchestrated by way of an Indian executive worker to kill a U.S. citizen in New York Town — used to be a brazen try to silence a political activist for exercising a quintessential American proper: his freedom of speech,” mentioned Deputy Legal professional Normal Lisa Monaco.
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Nikhil Gupta, 52, an Indian citizen, is accused of looking to pay for the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief in New York Town. (Reuters)
The Justice Division mentioned Gupta conspired with the Indian executive worker to take out Pannun, who has advocated for the established order of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethno-religious minority workforce in India. He is thought of as a terrorist by way of the Indian executive.
In November, federal prosecutors introduced {that a} plot to kill Pannun were thwarted in June of closing 12 months after a sting operation led by way of the Drug Enforcement Management.
Gupta, who claimed to be a guns trafficker, contacted a felony affiliate to assist discover a hit guy – who became out to be a DEA informant – to hold out the killing. The informant then offered Gupta to a purported hit guy, who used to be in fact a DEA agent, courtroom paperwork mentioned.
In June 2023, he allegedly introduced to pay $100,000 for the homicide and equipped surveillance pictures of the alleged goal.
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Jeffrey Chabrowe, lawyer of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian guy suspected of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, reacts on the Long island federal courtroom at the first day of Nikhil’s look, in New York Town, U.S., June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
In a remark that he learn outdoor the court docket, Gupta’s attorney, Jeff Chabrowe, referred to as the case a “advanced subject for each our nations.”
“This can be very necessary that we chorus from speeding to conclusions so early within the procedure. Background and main points will increase that can solid executive allegations into a completely new gentle. We will be able to pursue his protection vigorously and make sure he receives complete due procedure regardless of out of doors pressures.”
Gupta is charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to dedicate murder-for-hire, either one of which elevate as much as 10 years in jail.
Fox Information Virtual has reached out to the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C.
A member of the Sikh group protests outdoor Long island federal courtroom as Nikhil Gupta makes his look on the federal courtroom in New York Town. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
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In September, Canadian Top Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned there have been credible allegations that the Indian executive had hyperlinks to the assassination in that nation of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the accusation as absurd.
The Related press contributed to this record.
