Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national detained in Prague, has faced a setback in his legal battle against extradition to the United States. The Czech Constitutional Court has rejected Gupta's petition challenging his extradition to face murder-for-hire charges related to an alleged plot targeting Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
Gupta, aged 52, stands accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of collaborating with an Indian government employee in the foiled scheme to assassinate Pannun, who holds dual American and Canadian citizenship. He was arrested in Prague on June 30, 2023, and has since been detained there pending extradition proceedings.
Despite Gupta's efforts to challenge the extradition, the Constitutional Court ruled against him, finding no grounds to declare the extradition inadmissible based on violating constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and freedoms. The court affirmed the decisions of lower courts, which had considered factors that might prevent extradition and had rejected claims that the case was politically motivated.
With the Constitutional Court's decision, Gupta's legal options within the Czech judicial system have been exhausted. The court upheld the rulings of the Municipal Court and The High Court regarding the admissibility of extradition, as well as the decision to deny Gupta's request for release from pre-trial detention or compensation in various forms.
Gupta's fate now lies in the hands of Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek, who will make the final decision on whether to extradite him to the United States.
The extradition case gained attention after reports in April 2024 implicated a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer named Vikram Yadav in the alleged plot, with purported involvement sanctioned by the then R&AW chief Samant Goel. However, these reports were dismissed by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which emphasized ongoing investigations into the evidence shared by the U.S. concerning the alleged assassination plot.
As Gupta's legal battle continues, the case underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding extradition proceedings and the delicate balance between international cooperation and safeguarding individual rights.
