Few Incidents Won't Derail India-US Ties: PM Modi's 1st Reaction on Charge Over Pannun 'Murder Plot'

In his first response to US's claims of Indian national's alleged role in a plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the government will "look into" any evidence on the same.

In an interview to UK-based The Financial Times, PM Modi also said the relations between India and the US would not be derailed by "few incidents".

Nikhil Gupta is in detention in Prague since June for his alleged involvement in the foiled assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

On November 29, Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national, was charged by federal prosecutors in the US in connection with the allegations US authorities said Gupta colluded with an Indian government agency employee in the alleged plot.

In the Financial Times interview, PM Modi highlighted his deep concern about the activities of extremist groups overseas, saying they were engaged in intimidation and incited violence "under the guise of freedom of expression".

After the family of 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, the accused in an alleged murder plot against Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,  approached the Supreme Court on Friday seeking directions to the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs for help and intervention with Czech authorities, the apex court asked the family to move Czech court.

Nikhil Gupta has been detained in Prague since June for his alleged involvement in the assassination plot against Pannun.

The plea filed by Gupta's family was heard by a bench headed by Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice SVN Bhatti today. 

Last week, the Supreme Court asked Nikhil Gupta's family to move Czech court in the matter. Nikhil Gupta's family had approached the top court seeking Ministry of External Affairs and Home ministr's intervention.  

Petition by Nikhil Gupta's family in the Supreme Court read, “The petitioner, being a law-abiding Indian citizen, has been detained in a foreign prison facility at Prague where he has a grave threat to his life." The family sought help on grounds of human rights violation, stating that Gupta has remained in illegal custody since June, with no help being extended by the Ministry of External Affairs despite repeated requests.

In the petition, the family further noted that, “Since June 30, 2023, he has been in illegal custody of the Czech authorities, facing an alleged political vendetta between the US and Indian governments. He argues that the extradition proceedings initiated in Prague have been marred by procedural failures, highlighting the absence of an arrest warrant, lack of fair representation, and denial of basic rights, rendering the trial anything but fair."

As per media reports, the plea also emphasised on violation of human rights, illegal detention, denial of basic religious rights and other issues regarding his detention and arrest by the Czech authorities and the USA.

The Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic has confirmed the arrest and provisional custody of Nikhil Gupta.