by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 17 – Back in late 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, a superseding indictment was unsealed alleging murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City - reportedly Sikh Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta in Prague’s Pankrac prison.
On June 17, 2024, Gupta was presented in the SDNY Magistrates Court. While Inner City Press is often the only media there - for only one example, in a gun case on June 14, continued into June 17 - this time the gallery was full, including with Indian journalists. With some new and we hope temporary restrictions, Inner City Press thread:
AUSA: Mr Gupta was extradited in. We will make voluntary consular notification.
Judge: You are charged with murder for hire. Retained defense counsel: He pleads not guilty.
AUSA: We seek detention. Defense: We consent; we'll confer before Judge Marrero next week. My client is a vegetarian.
Magistrate Judge James L. Cott: There are others in the MDC [Metropolitan Detention Center] who are vegetarians, it shouldn't be a problem.
On June 28, with Khalistan protesters out on Worth Street, Gupta was produced by US Marshals before Judge Victor Marrero. Inner City Press was there - thread:
AUSA: The defendant on behalf of an Indian gov't employee sought a hitman... We have video.
AUSA: We ask for 60 days. Defense lawyer: Aug 30? Judge: Sept 13, 1 pm
But late on September 12, the US Attorney's Office wrote in: "The parties write in light of the rescheduling of the status conference scheduled for September 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the above referenced case." No notice to those interested in the case? Letter on Patreon here
On September 13, the morning of the 1 pm hearing, the letter motion was granted: "ORDER as to Nikhil Gupta: The status conference scheduled currently scheduled for September 13, 2024, is hereby adjourned to October 18, 2024."
On October 17, the US unsealed a second superseding indictment naming a government official, at large, as co-defendant: "the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee VIKASH YADAV, a/k/a “Vikas,” a/k/a “Amanat,” in connection with his role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. YADAV is at large."
The case is US v. Gupta, et al., 23-cr-289 (Marrero)
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