by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 12 – 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 NYC - 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. Inner City Press thread
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
On October 17, the US unsealed a second superseding indictment naming a government official, at large, as co-defendant: Indian government employee VIKASH YADAV, a/k/a “Vikas,” YADAV is at large."
On October 18, Inner City Press live tweeted - and later asked Sikhs demonstrating on Worth Street why Modi security official Ajit Doval did not come to the US for the UN General Assembly... Thread
On October 25, Gupta's lawyer wrote in that he is no longer being paid and asks to withdraw from the case. Letter on Patreon here.
On October 31, in the SDNY Magistrates Court, the change was effectuated - and Inner City Press was the only media there, thread
On February 25, the US Attorney's Office filed this: "The Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic has since advised DOJ that no waiver of the rule of specialty is necessary.. the Government intends to proceed to trial on Count Three." Filing on Patreon here
On March 21 the parties wrote to Judge Marrero proposing the trial "any date in November 2025"
On March 28, Judge Marrero picked November 3.
On April 10 Federal Defenders wrote to Judge Marrero that there has been a breakdown in communications and Gupta is requesting a change of counsel.
On April 11 Inner City Press live tweeted the change of counsel, not yet consummated:
All rise! Judge Marrero: Mr. Gupta, you are protected by the attorney client privilege. I suggest that before speaking you check with [outgoing] counsel, who took over from your retained counsel back in October. Motions are due in May, trial in November.
Judge: Do you wish to change counsel? Gupta: Yes. Judge: Granted. New CJA, could you be ready for trial in November? CJA: I'll need to consult with my partners, by Tuesday
On April 14 that lawyer said he couldn't do it - so a former AUSA now at Milbank was appointed - "The trial in this matter will still begin on November 3, 2025"
On June 4 Judge Marrero granted CJA counsel's request that Gupta's pro se motion be denied.
On July 21 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that the searches and turn over of iPhone passwords in Czechia were fine.
On July 31 Judge Marrero set hearing on the admissibility of Gupta's statements to US law enforcement after his arrest in Czechia
On August 5 Gupta's lawyers asked to expand the scope of the August 12 hearing; the US Attorney's Office asked until August 6 to oppose such expansion.
On August 6 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that Gupta waived an argument by not raising it in his opening brief.
On August 12, with yellow Khalistan flags out on Worth Street, "The Government called DEA Task Force Officer Jose Sandobal as its sole witness. The Defendant declined to call Special Agent Mark Franks. The Court directed the parties to submit post-hearing briefing within two (2) weeks, to be due simultaneously."
The case is USA v. Gupta, et al., 1:23-cr-289 (Marrero)
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