Czech authorities have confirmed the extradition, which they said took place on June 14
New Delhi: Almost one year after he arrived at the Prague airport, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who the United States suspects of involvement in a conspiracy to murder a Sikh lawyer, was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday.
The extradition was carried out on Friday (June 14) at Prague-Ruzyně Airport, Vladimir Repka, spokesperson of the ministry of justice of the Czech Republic said.
Reuters had reported on the extradition earlier on June 17, citing the US’s federal Bureau of Prisons website and a source familiar with the matter.
In late May, The Wire had reported how the Czech Constitutional Court had dismissed Gupta’s petition to stop his extradition to the US, rejecting his claim that the charges against him were political in nature.
Gupta is understood to be accused of playing a vital role alongside an Indian government official to kill Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun is associated with Sikhs for Justice, a Khalistani group proscribed as a terror group by India.
Pannun told Reuters that he saw the extradition as a welcome step, but that “Nikhil Gupta is just a foot soldier”.
“He alleged that those who hired Gupta were senior members of the Indian government who act on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Reuters report said.
Jeffrey Chabrowe, Gupta’s lawyer in the US, told The Wire that the extradition was a “complex matter for both our countries [the US and India]” and that it was “extremely important” to refrain from “rushing to conclusions so early in the process”.
“Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light. We will pursue his defense vigorously and ensure he receives full due process regardless of outside pressures,” Chabrowe added.
Gupta is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, a federal administrative detention facility, The Wire has confirmed on the Bureau of Prisons website.
The full statement by the Czech authorities says:
“After the final and binding decision of the Municipal Court in Prague dated November 23, 2023, in conjunction with the decision of the High Court in Prague dated January 8, 2024, regarding the admissibility of the extradition of Nikhil Gupta for criminal prosecution to the United States of America, the Minister of Justice of the Czech Republic authorized the extradition of Nikhil Gupta to the United States of America by a decision dated June 3, 2024. The extradition to the USA was authorized for criminal prosecution on suspicion of committing the crime of conspiracy to commit a murder for hire with the intent to cause death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1958(a), and the crime of murder for hire with the intent to cause death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1958(a).”
Gupta was arrested in June 2023 on his arrival in Prague, and US prosecutors put in an extradition request soon afterwards. His arrest was only publicly revealed by the US in November.
The Wire had first reported about Gupta’s legal process before the Czech judiciary in December last year.
The indictment had also said that Gupta was aware in advance of the plan to kill the Canadian national Hardeep Singh Nijjar – also proscribed as a Khalistani terrorist by India. Canada’s claims on Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing has led to significant worsening of Canada-India ties.
Note: This report has been updated since publication to include confirmation from the Czech ministry of justice as well a statement from Chabrowe..
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