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The government today said it has not received any consular access request from Nikhil Gupta, an Indian accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against a Khalistani terrorist on American soil. “We are in touch with his family,” it added.
The 53-year-old was arrested and detained in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, at the request of the US government on charges of plotting with an Indian official to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. He was extradited to the US on June 14.
Mr Gupta was produced before a federal court in New York on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty, according to his lawyer Jeffrey Chabrowe.
India has designated Pannun a terrorist but dissociated itself from the plot. The government said late last year it was a “matter of concern” that an Indian government official was linked to the plot and that it would formally investigate concerns raised by the United States.
“This is a complex matter for both our countries,” Mr Gupta’s lawyer told PTI ahead of his client’s arraignment.
“It is extremely important that we refrain from rushing to conclusions so early in the process. Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light,” he said.
“We will pursue his defence vigorously and ensure he receives full due process, regardless of outside pressures,” he added.
The murder-for-hire case carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York said in a press release.
The government today said that French journalist Sebastien Farcis’ claims that he was “forced to leave” the country were incorrect and that the renewal of his work permit was under consideration.
“Mr Farcis is an OCI card holder and under our regulations requires approval to carry out journalistic assignments. He has re-applied for renewal of work permit in May 2024, and to the best of my knowledge, his case is under consideration,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“He has the right to make a decision in so far as his travel out of the country is concerned,” Mr Jaiswal added.
Mr Farcis is the South Asia correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Liberation and the Swiss and Belgian public radios. He had claimed that he was forced to leave India after 13 years after the Home Ministry refused to renew his work permit.
“After 13 years covering India for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Liberation and the Swiss and Belgian public radios, the Indian authorities refused to renew my work permit. So I was forced to leave the country,” the journalist said in a post on X.
In February, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac left India after the government revoked her Overseas Citizen of India card. Farcis said he had been working in India as a journalist since 2011 and had obtained all the necessary visas and accreditations.
“I have… never worked in restricted or protected areas without a permit. On several occasions, the MHA even granted me permits to report from border areas,” he said in a statement posted on X.