“Sensitive issue”: The Supreme Court rejects the appeal filed by the relatives of Nikhil Gupta, who was charged by the US in connection with the Pannun murder conspiracy

The Supreme Court declared that the administration will determine how to handle this delicate matter.The Supreme Court denied Nikhil Gupta’s request for consular access and legal assistance to contest his indictment and extradition on Thursday. Gupta is an Indian national who is charged in a US court of planning an assassination attempt in New York. The plea was submitted by an anonymous family member. The Supreme Court stated that the Government of India would determine how to proceed because it is a delicate topic. “We cannot intervene in light of public international law and the comity of courts,” the Supreme Court declared. The highest court ruled that it ought to recognise the authority of a foreign court.

A businessman from Delhi named Nikhil Gupta was accused by the US in 2023 after his detention in the Czech Republic on suspicion of planning to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. According to the US, Nikhil Gupta hired a hitman—who was actually an undercover police officer—to assassinate Pannun while he was collaborating with a government agent.Declaring the claims to be extremely serious, New Delhi formed an investigation team and stated it was investigating. The family of Nikhil Gupta petitioned the Supreme Court, claiming that their son was being kept in isolation and made to eat hog and meat.