Pannun 'Killing' Plot Case: On Nikhil Gupta's Allegations Of Being Fed Beef, Czech Prison Authority Says Adhered To Human Rights

In response to allegations made by Nikhil Gupta's family regarding violations of fundamental rights, lack of consular access, and unsuitable diet in a Prague jail, the Czech Republic's Prison Service has clarified to The Indian Express.

They stressed that their correctional facilities are subjected to "rigorous examination" by both national and international organisations. They further maintained that they strictly adhere to all human rights and other legal norms.

Gupta, who is presently held in Pankrac prison in Prague, faces accusations from the US authorities. They allege that he conspired to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistan terrorist and a US citizen, in New York under the direction of an Indian intelligence official.

The Prison Service of the Czech Republic is a law enforcement agency equipped with arms, tasked with overseeing prisons, implementing sentences, and managing both pre-trial and protective detentions.

Gupta's family claimed in a habeas corpus petition submitted to the Supreme Court last week that his extradition proceedings in the Czech Republic have been tainted by procedural errors. They requested the Supreme Court to instruct the Indian government to step in.

The petition further claimed that Gupta was repeatedly denied the right to contact the consulate, make phone calls to his family, and was compelled to consume beef and pork despite being a vegetarian.

In response to the allegations, Jiří Jawan, the spokesperson for the Prison Service, stated that there are numerous internal and external measures in place within the Czech Republic's correctional facilities to ensure adherence to all standards.

He explained that a state prosecutor is assigned to each facility to monitor the conditions and has the authority to immediately intervene in case of any misconduct.

Jawan also noted that the prison service is routinely scrutinized by several organisations, including the Czech Ombudsperson and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Jawan asserted in his email, "I confidently state that in prisons undergoing the level of examination referenced above (excluding the investigations performed by journalists and the media), all human rights and other legal standards and requirements - as dictated by the relevant legal acts - are being conscientiously adhered to."

In response to the particular claim about phone calls to his family being rejected, Jawan didn't specifically respond to Gupta's situation. Instead, he noted that all prisoners have the right to interact with the world beyond the prison walls. He clarified that this interaction could be facilitated through various means such as phone calls, written letters, standard in-person visits, or even video calls.

Regarding the allegation that Gupta was compelled to consume non-vegetarian food, it was stated that, "According to Section 11 of the Act 293/1993 on Pre-trial Detention, the prison is mandated to offer regular meals to pre-trial detainees in a manner that upholds their health, considering their health status, age, and the demands of their cultural and religious customs. This clearly indicates that, barring health-related reasons, a pre-trial detainee has the right to request a diet based on their cultural and religious traditions and practices. In addition, it's not unusual for prisons to provide various diets to accommodate inmates' medical conditions, hence a vegetarian diet is not exceptional."