SC Rejects Plea For Consular Access To Nikhil Gupta Accused By US In Pannun Murder Plot

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea seeking consular access filed on behalf of Nikhil Gupta who is an accused in plotting the killing of Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. The plea for consular access was moved by a kin of the Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who is in detention in the Czech Republic in connection with the Pannun plot. 

Along with consular access, Gupta also filed the plea against his arrest and ongoing extradition proceedings in the Czech Republic.

Scrapping Gupta's plea, the apex court said that it is a sensitive issue and the jurisdiction of foreign court should be respected.

According to the plea, Nikhil Gupta is currently detained in prison in the Czech Republic while awaiting extradition to the United States in connection with the case there for allegedly being involved in a foiled plot to murder Pannun, reported ANI. 

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India obtained consular access to meet Nikhil Gupta and has been providing all necessary consular access to him. 

"It is a legal issue...an Indian national is under the custody of the Czech Republic. The request for extradition by the US is pending there. We have had consular access three times. We are providing whatever possible consular help in the matter," said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. 

The US Justice Department has claimed that an employee of the government of India (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national nmed Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to caary out the kililng, foiled by the US authorities. 

Following the allegation, Bagchi said that a case filed against an individual in a US court and allegedly linking him to an Indian official is a "matter of concern" and is contrary to government policy. 

A high-level committee has been set by India also to probe the matter.