‘Murder plot’ against Pannun: India got consular access to Nikhil Gupta on three occasions, says Govt
"We received consular access to him at least on three occasions", External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.
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The US federal prosecutors have charged that Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (in picture).India was granted consular access on at least three occasions to Nikhil Gupta, detained in a Czech prison and accused by the US of plotting to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun at the behest of an Indian official.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “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. We are extending necessary consular assistance to the individual as per requirement.”
On the Indian-American Congressmen making a statement about the impact of the alleged assassination plot on bilateral ties, Bagchi said, “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.”
The debate, assurance
US claims of an alleged plot to kill Pannun followed by reports of a warning to India have turned the spotlight on bilateral ties. But the Prime Minister, underlining his government’s commitment to the rule of law, has played down any impact that this issue may have on ties, pointing to “strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of relationship”.
According to the MEA, a high-level committee is probing the US inputs. The constitution of the committee, formed on November 18, has not, however, been made public. Bagchi declined to get drawn into the jurisdiction issue, and said that it would not be appropriate to comment, since it is a “sub judice” issue.
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.
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