The Indian Supreme Court dismissed a habeas corpus petition related to the detention of Nikhil Gupta in the Czech Republic, accused of plotting an assassination. The petition was filed by a family member of Gupta, highlighting the legal mechanism of habeas corpus, vital in protecting individuals from unlawful detention or imprisonment.
Gupta was accused of plotting the murder of pro-Khalistan activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The court, in rejecting all requests in the writ petition, leaned on principles of international law and sovereignty. Indian Embassy officers have visited the detained Gupta, and he remains in detention following a related High Court order.
The court suggested treating the writ petition as a representation to the Indian government. The Minister of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal commented on the issue saying, “We haven’t seen the order of the ruling of the Supreme Court. Therefore, it will be not fair for me to comment on it. We are yet to see the formal order of the Supreme Court.”
In November 2023, charges were leveled against Gupta, an employee of the Indian government, by US prosecutors. He was alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Pannun, financed by an Indian government agency. The plot revolved around a payment of $100,000 to an undercover US Drug Enforcement Administration agent to carry out the murder.
Pannun is a known advocate for the secession of Punjab from India to establish Khalistan, a stance that earned him and his separatist organization a ban by the Indian government. Gupta had allegedly mentioned multiple targets, including Nijjar, a Canadian activist recently killed and deemed a terrorist by the Indian authorities.
Further tensions have arisen in the past few months, with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making similar claims against the Indian government back in September, accusing them of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil. This led to a diplomatic fallout, including visa suspensions and mutual allegations.
Czech authorities arrested Nikhil Gupta based on a US request in June. The case continues to unfold and will be closely watched by legal representatives globally as it pertains to international law, ensuring the rights of individuals and political tensions tied to separatist movements.
For more detailed information, visit the original report at JURIST – News.