The Indian government has declared Groupon Singh Panon as a terrorist (File).
New Delhi:
The murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta – who the United States claims conspired with another Indian to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurptunat Singh Panon – have drawn New Delhi into a frenzy. Dealing with the allegations has forced it to consider “institutional reforms… necessary,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Mike Campbell told the press on Wednesday.
Gupta, 53, was arrested by Czech authorities in June last year and was extradited to the US this month.
This followed a plea from the United States, which accused him of conspiring with an Indian government official to hire a 'hitman' who later turned out to be an undercover US federal agent. appeared as The U.S. claims it has material showing the crew asked Gupta to plan the assassination.
In return, the staff said the criminal case against Nikhil Gupta in Gujarat would be dropped.
Gupta was arraigned in New York federal court and entered a plea of 'not guilty'.
Ahead of the appearance, his lawyer told news agency PTI that “this is a complex matter for both our countries” and that there were emerging “details… that could shed new light on the government's allegations”. Referred.
No application for consular access.
Gupta has yet to request consular access, which is the right of any Indian in his position. “We are looking into the matter…to see what can be done (and) are in touch with his family,” Hindustan said.
Read on “No Request for Consular Access”: India on US Murder-for-Hire Plot Case
Under current US law, Gupta faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Gupta had earlier complained of being “unfairly accused” by his legal representatives.
Also in December, Gupta filed a petition in the Indian Supreme Court (in which a family member identified only as 'X') alleging multiple human rights violations during his time in a Czech prison. was
Read on “Refer to Czech Court”: Supreme Court on Indian Arrested in US Assassination Plot
In particular, Gupta claimed violations of fundamental rights, including the “forced consumption of beef and pork” which he found offensive as a “devout Hindu and vegetarian”. However, the request was dismissed by the court saying that it must respect the sovereignty of courts in other countries.
India's response
India has declared Panon a terrorist but has distanced itself from the plot.
In November last year, the Foreign Ministry admitted that the allegations were a “matter of concern”, and stressed that the government had launched a high-level inquiry into the matter. “We have said that it (the act of ordering Panon's killing) is against government policy,” the ministry said.
Read on “Against policy”: India blames US official for role in assassination plot
The ministry also said that the Indian government “takes such inputs seriously, as they also affect our national security interests, and the relevant departments are already looking into the matter.”
In December, a senior White House official said that India “is a strategic partner (but) we take these allegations and this investigation very seriously”.
Read on “Take it very seriously”: US after Indian in alleged assassination plot
Today, on Indian cooperation on the matter, Mr. Campbell said, “India has been responsive…” but emphasized that the United States will continue to seek accountability from the Indian government.
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