Under pressure, Czech govt likely to extradite Nikhil Gupta to US

Under pressure from both Washington and Ottawa, the Czech government is left with no option but to extradite Delhi-based Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who has been imprisoned by Czech officials since 30 June 2023 for his alleged involvement in the assassination attempt of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

This is going to happen despite the US officials being unable to submit any proof in the Prague High Court to prove that Gupta was involved in this alleged murder plot.

Petr Fiala, the Prime Minister of Czech Republic, is likely to give the permission to send Gupta to the US despite no credible evidence being present that proves Gupta being involved in the “fictional” attempt to kill Pannun, a banned terrorist in India.

Last week, the Prague High Court, in what was being seen as a foregone conclusion, ruled that Gupta could be extradited to the US so that he could be tried for his alleged role in what the US officials have called a hit against Pannun that was allegedly sanctioned by Indian intelligence agencies.

The developments in the case, the allegations of which were raised by the Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau administrations with New Delhi, are being keenly watched by global powers.