Pannun murder plot: Nikhil Gupta accused in US, moves Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: A habeas corpus petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Nikhil Gupta, accused by the US of hatching a plan to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Live Law reported.
The petition seeks the intervention of the Indian government to release Gupta from prison in the Czech Republic.
The petition alleges that Nikhil Gupta was "subjected to forced consumption of beef and pork during his detention in Czech custody." The petitioner claims that Gupta was also denied consular access, the right to contact his family in India, and the freedom to seek legal representation.
The development comes days after US law enforcement authorities announced the filing of "murder-for-hire" charges against Gupta in what they said was a "foiled plot to assassinate" Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City.
Pannun was not named in the indictment, but the chargesheet disclosed that Gupta, 52, was directed by an Indian government official, referred to only as CC-1.
Reacting to the US charges against Gupta, the external affairs ministry expressed India's deep concern.
Speaking on the indictment by the US Justice Department, External Affairs Minister Arindam Bagchi said that the development is contrary to government policy and is a "matter of concern."
"We cannot share any further information on such security matters. As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said, and let me reiterate that this is contrary to government policy," Bagchi said.