'Assassination' Plot Against Khalistani Terrorist Pannun: India Got Consular Access To Nikhil Gupta, Providing Necessary Assistance, Says MEA

India has been given consular access on at least three occasions to Nikhil Gupta, who is currently detained in a Czech prison and charged by the US with conspiring to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under the direction of an Indian official.

“An Indian national is currently in the custody of Czech authorities pending a request for extradition to the US. We have received consular access, at least I am aware of, on at least three occasions," Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Thursday (21 December).

Bagchi further added that India is extending "necessary consular assistance" to Gupta "as per requirement".

Bagchi also commented on the statement made by Indian-American Congressmen regarding the alleged assassination plot's impact on bilateral relations, stating "We take seriously the inputs that have been provided by the US side, and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all relevant aspects of the matter. This factor has also been noted by these members of Congress, and I don’t have any further update on it".

"I certainly don’t have any update on the committee or its timelines or its findings as of right now," he said.

The MEA has confirmed that a high-level committee is investigating the inputs from the US.

The constitution of this committee, formed on 18 November, has not been publicly disclosed.

Bagchi refrained from discussing the issue of jurisdiction, stating it would not be suitable to comment due to the matter being "sub judice".

The US Department of Justice, in an indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, claimed an Indian official was working with an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, who was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 this year and has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Earlier, Uk daily Financial Times, reported that the US “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” Pannun on American soil and “issued a warning to India".