New Delhi: Indian authorities have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta, the Indian national extradited to the US from the Czech Republic following allegations of his involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the United States on June 14.
"He was extradited to the United States on June 14. So far we have not received any request for consular access from Gupta, but his family has contacted us," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. .
"We are in contact with the family members and are looking into the matter to see what can be done at their request," he said during his weekly press conference while answering a question.
Gupta, 53, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in federal court in New York on June 17.
While Gupta was in the custody of Czech authorities, Indian officials had consular access to him on some occasions.
Last November, US federal prosecutors accused Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.
Pannun, wanted in India on terrorism charges, has dual American and Canadian citizenship.
The issue of consular access to Gupta will be decided in accordance with the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, people familiar with the matter said.
Article 36 of the Convention establishes that a detained person must submit a request for consular access to the authorities of his or her country.
"However, consular officials will refrain from acting on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or detention if he or she expressly opposes such action," the article states.
Following Gupta's extradition, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he "makes it clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens."
"Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court for his role in an alleged plot, led by an Indian government employee, to attack and murder a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India," he said. .
In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun.
Following the report, India said it had made "unjustified and baseless" allegations about a serious matter and that investigation into the case was underway.
India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to examine inputs provided by the United States on the alleged plot.
Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the United States on June 14.
"He was extradited to the United States on June 14. So far we have not received any request for consular access from Gupta, but his family has contacted us," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. .
"We are in contact with the family members and are looking into the matter to see what can be done at their request," he said during his weekly press conference while answering a question.
Gupta, 53, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in federal court in New York on June 17.
While Gupta was in the custody of Czech authorities, Indian officials had consular access to him on some occasions.
Last November, US federal prosecutors accused Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.
Pannun, wanted in India on terrorism charges, has dual American and Canadian citizenship.
The issue of consular access to Gupta will be decided in accordance with the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, people familiar with the matter said.
Article 36 of the Convention establishes that a detained person must submit a request for consular access to the authorities of his or her country.
"However, consular officials will refrain from acting on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or detention if he or she expressly opposes such action," the article states.
Following Gupta's extradition, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he "makes it clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens."
"Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court for his role in an alleged plot, led by an Indian government employee, to attack and murder a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India," he said. .
In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun.
Following the report, India said it had made "unjustified and baseless" allegations about a serious matter and that investigation into the case was underway.
India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to examine inputs provided by the United States on the alleged plot.
