New York/Washington: Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder plot against a Sikh extremist on US soil, pleaded not guilty in the case in a federal court here on Monday.
Gupta, 52, was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday.
He was arrested in the Czech Republic last year on the request of the US government for his involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.
According to Gupta's lawyer Jeffrey Chabroway, Gupta appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty.The Czech Constitutional Court had last month rejected Gupta's plea against extradition to the US to face charges.
US federal prosecutors allege that Gupta was acting on instructions from an unnamed Indian government official.
However, India has denied its involvement in such a matter and has launched a high-level investigation into the allegations.
"This is a complex case for both of our countries," Gupta's lawyer Chabrowe said ahead of his client's arraignment in a federal court here.
“It is extremely important that we avoid jumping to conclusions so early in the process,” Chabrowe said.Background and details will develop that may cast the government's allegations in an entirely new light."
"We will defend him vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures," he said.
Earlier, the Czech Justice Minister had confirmed that Gupta has been extradited to the US.
“Based on my decision (June 3), Indian national Nikhil Gupta, suspected of conspiracy to commit murder with intent to cause death, was extradited to the United States on Friday (June 14) to face criminal prosecution. , Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek said in a post on X.Federal prosecutors allege that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid US$15,000 in advance.
Gupta, through his lawyer, has denied the allegations and said he has been "falsely accused".
In April 2024, the Washington Post reported that Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikram Yadav was the Indian official behind the plot. The newspaper also said that then R&AW chief Samant Goyal had approved the operation.
However, India's Ministry of External Affairs rejected the report, saying it made "unfair and baseless allegations" to claim that Indian agents were involved in a plot to kill Pannun.India has publicly stated that a high-level investigation is being conducted into the evidence shared by the US into the alleged conspiracy to murder Pannun.
Gupta, 52, was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday.
He was arrested in the Czech Republic last year on the request of the US government for his involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.
According to Gupta's lawyer Jeffrey Chabroway, Gupta appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty.The Czech Constitutional Court had last month rejected Gupta's plea against extradition to the US to face charges.
US federal prosecutors allege that Gupta was acting on instructions from an unnamed Indian government official.
However, India has denied its involvement in such a matter and has launched a high-level investigation into the allegations.
"This is a complex case for both of our countries," Gupta's lawyer Chabrowe said ahead of his client's arraignment in a federal court here.
“It is extremely important that we avoid jumping to conclusions so early in the process,” Chabrowe said.Background and details will develop that may cast the government's allegations in an entirely new light."
"We will defend him vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures," he said.
Earlier, the Czech Justice Minister had confirmed that Gupta has been extradited to the US.
“Based on my decision (June 3), Indian national Nikhil Gupta, suspected of conspiracy to commit murder with intent to cause death, was extradited to the United States on Friday (June 14) to face criminal prosecution. , Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek said in a post on X.Federal prosecutors allege that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid US$15,000 in advance.
Gupta, through his lawyer, has denied the allegations and said he has been "falsely accused".
In April 2024, the Washington Post reported that Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikram Yadav was the Indian official behind the plot. The newspaper also said that then R&AW chief Samant Goyal had approved the operation.
However, India's Ministry of External Affairs rejected the report, saying it made "unfair and baseless allegations" to claim that Indian agents were involved in a plot to kill Pannun.India has publicly stated that a high-level investigation is being conducted into the evidence shared by the US into the alleged conspiracy to murder Pannun.
