Delhi, 15 December (H.S) : The family of Nikhil Gupta, the man accused of plotting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking intervention from the Government of India to secure his release from prison in the Czech Republic. As per sources, Gupta’s family has filed a habeas corpus petition in the apex court, which was presented before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti.
In the plea, Gupta has alleged that he was subjected to forced consumption of beef and pork, in violation of his religious beliefs, during his detention in Czech custody. He also claimed to have been denied consular access, the right to contact his family in India, and the freedom to seek legal representation.
The court has scheduled a hearing for January 4, 2023, and stated that if there are any violations of law, they must be addressed in the appropriate court. The US Justice Department had named Gupta in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun, a US citizen, on US soil. India has formed a panel to investigate the allegations and has assured the US officials that it will look into the matter.
This move by Gupta’s family comes after his arrest and provisional custody in the Czech Republic at the request of the US Department of Justice. However, the US indictment did not mention Pannun or his organization, Sikh for Justice. The Ministry of External Affairs has called this a sensitive matter and is closely monitoring the situation.
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