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The homicide plot wherein Nikhil Gupta is accused of taking part in a key position was allegedly underway when outspoken Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot useless
Printed Jul 05, 2025 • Final up to date 12 hours in the past • 13 minute learn
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Two officers with a U.S. process power, one among them a particular agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the opposite a detective with the New York Metropolis Police Division, had flown to the Czech Republic for the anticipated takedown of a person wished in a unprecedented, politically delicate murder-for-hire case.
The U.S. officers knew precisely when their goal was to reach in Prague on a flight from India and had given all the main points to Czech authorities. Worldwide paperwork requesting the arrest and extradition to New York had already been despatched for his or her wished suspect: Nikhil Gupta, 53, often called Nick.
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On the afternoon of the flight’s arrival, the 2 Individuals had been instructed they’d have to attend in a police van parked at Terminal Certainly one of Vaclav Havel Airport whereas the operation went down.
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An hour handed earlier than the Czechs returned to the van, escorting Gupta in handcuffs. The Czech’s instructed the Individuals that they had waited for Gupta to gather his baggage earlier than arresting him, the DEA agent wrote in his report on the incident, typed 12 days later. Gupta’s arrest, round 6:30 p.m., on June 30, 2023, went easily, he wrote.
The agent’s report went on to current a neat and tidy account of the arrest of Gupta on alarming costs that ignited worldwide headlines and diplomatic tensions, most dramatically in the USA, India, and Canada, three international locations being drawn right into a firestorm.
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Nikhil Gupta, accused in a world plot to kill Sikh activists in Canada, is seen arriving at Prague airport moments earlier than his arrest. Photograph by U.S. Court docket
Gupta stands accused of getting a key position in an alleged conspiracy plotted from inside an Indian intelligence company to kill a twin Canadian-American citizen who leads a Sikh group, in addition to different associated targets in Canada and the USA.
The homicide plot within the U.S. was allegedly underway when Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an outspoken Canadian Sikh separatist, was shot useless outdoors a temple in Surrey, B.C.; then prime minister Justin Trudeau stated “credible allegations” level to the involvement of the Indian authorities within the hit, setting off a harsh diplomatic dispute between Canada and India. Dozens of diplomats had been kicked out of each international locations.
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The U.S. prosecution of Gupta later alleged that Nijjar was on the listing of targets that Gupta was farming out to underworld hitmen.
Nijjar was an in depth affiliate of the alleged goal in America, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Each Nijjar and Pannun have been harsh critics of the Indian authorities and leaders within the Khalistan motion, in search of to create a separate homeland for Sikhs in India’s Punjab area.
That world backdrop makes this case — and Nikhil Gupta — notably vital and terribly delicate.
A current flurry of insider paperwork not often seen publicly had been filed in federal court docket in New York, together with the DEA agent’s report on Gupta’s arrest that relays a startling confession made by Gupta to the American officers at the back of the Czech police van whereas driving from the airport after his arrest.
As ought to be anticipated in a high-stakes case swirling with world intrigue, spies, and gangland figures, the rising proof additionally presents competing accounts and opposing claims that say the airport arrest, and a lot extra, are a lot messier and much sneakier than first declared.
Contained in the Czech police van on the Prague airport, DEA Particular Agent Mark Franks wrote afterwards in his inside report, he and Jose Sandobal, a New York detective assigned to the joint taskforce, spoke with Gupta as they travelled to a detention facility.
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The Individuals didn’t have lengthy with Gupta. It was a brief drive from the airport to the holding facility, lower than quarter-hour, by Franks’ account.
“I need to cooperate. Take me to America and I’ll cooperate proper now with you guys,” was the very first thing Gupta stated to the Individuals, in keeping with Sandobal’s account, given a lot later.
Gupta instructed them he was travelling in Uzbekistan in 2021 and when he returned to India, he was instructed he was scheduled for a court docket look for a theft, in keeping with Franks’ written account.
Nikhil Gupta, accused in a world plot to kill Sikh activists in Canada, beneath arrest by Czech police at Prague airport. Photograph by U.S. Court docket
“Gupta didn’t perceive why, as he was not within the nation, however he stated this was common as India’s police power is corrupt. Gupta started asking buddies to see in the event that they knew anybody who might help him in clearing his identify,” the report says. Gupta then acquired a telephone name from somebody named “Amanat” who stated he might clear Gupta’s identify. The 2 males met in New Delhi, shortly after, the report says.
“Gupta stated Amanat wore a masks, hat, glasses and lengthy sleeve t-shirts.”
Amanat requested Gupta to have somebody in New York Metropolis killed. If it was a shocking request, Gupta didn’t appear to indicate it. He instructed the person he knew somebody who might do it, the report alleges he stated.
Gupta confirmed the Individuals the contact quantity for Amanat on his telephone and stated he knew little else about him. Included in court docket filings is {a photograph}, taken contained in the police van, of a telephone being held open to the contact data display for “Amanat” displaying two numbers.
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He stated Amanat would most likely go into hiding when he hears about Gupta’s arrest.
The agent stated they learn Gupta his rights as they travelled.
Gupta then wrote his identify on the rights recommendation consent type however earlier than signing it requested to make a telephone name. The Individuals stated they couldn’t authorize that as he wasn’t in U.S. custody. He insisted he would signal provided that he might make a telephone name. And he didn’t signal it.
Take me to America and I’ll cooperate proper now with you guys
“Gupta began very cooperative however later soured; don’t assume he preferred me,” Sandobal later stated in a debrief with U.S. prosecutors, in keeping with a court docket submitting.
Based on paperwork filed in court docket, there was a textual content chat group happening after the van experience between Franks, Sandobal, and two Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the prosecution crew.
“Is he speaking?” prosecutor Camille L. Fletch requested.
“We had restricted time,” Franks replied. “He did however he was taking part in f–okay f–okay video games. We expect he’ll in the end cooperate. We will fill you in additional.”
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On the time of Gupta’s arrest, an indictment towards him was filed in U.S. federal court docket within the Southern District of New York. It was sealed by court docket order and an arrest warrant was secretly issued on June 13, 2023. Then U.S. officers requested help from Czech authorities to arrest him.
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The Individuals knew precisely what Gupta’s journey plans had been as a result of that they had secretly helped to rearrange them in an undercover sting.
Not lengthy earlier than his arrest, Gupta had reached out to a person he thought was a Colombian cocaine provider, in keeping with unproven allegations within the U.S. indictment and different paperwork filed in court docket.
The 2 males had a previous. Since 2016, that they had periodically mentioned — however by no means pulled off — numerous weapons and medicines offers. The person he spoke with was an unusually skilled snitch. He has labored as a paid DEA informant for greater than 25 years.
Throughout one among their chats in Could 2023, Gupta allegedly requested the person if he knew somebody who might perform successful on a lawyer who lives in New York. Gupta’s perception he was coping with knowledgeable narco appeared so deep, he gave the person the identify of the supposed goal and instructed him he might pay $100,000 for the hit, court docket paperwork allege.
Alleged assassination goal Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in his New York workplace. Photograph by Ted Shaffrey/AP, File
The snitch, in fact, stated he would attain out to his contacts within the New York underworld and see. The informant then launched Gupta to a person who presupposed to be the Colombian’s New York hitman, however was actually an undercover police agent.
Gupta allegedly used WhatsApp, an encrypted messaging app, to rearrange for a courier to ship $15,000 as a retainer for the hitman in Manhattan. The courier and the hitman met within the afternoon on June 9, 2023.
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Gupta later added a selected time-frame for the job: both shortly earlier than or after the official go to to the USA by India’s prime minister in June 2023.
He additionally allegedly stated this was the primary of 4 hits; he would have extra work for the purported killer with extra targets, a few of whom lived in Canada.
On June 18, 2023, got here surprising information from British Columbia: Nijjar had been shot and killed outdoors a Sikh temple. The Indian-born citizen of Canada had been designated a terrorist by India three years earlier for his assist of taking over arms in a struggle for a separatist Sikh state.
The subsequent day, Gupta allegedly despatched a video clip of the Nijjar killing to the spy and stated the sufferer was one of many supposed targets he had beforehand talked about.
“This strongly means that Gupta and/or individuals working with Gupta had been answerable for the affiliate’s homicide,” a U.S. letter despatched to the Czech authorities to assist Gupta’s extradition says. “Gupta additionally instructed the spy that the homicide of the supposed sufferer ought to now be carried out as quickly as attainable, with out regard to collateral penalties comparable to potential hurt to civilian bystanders or any ensuing protests or political upheaval.”
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On a recording made by the spy, Gupta allegedly stated: “Hit the goal … no restrictions, no limitations.”
After the sufferer, Pannun, was killed, Gupta would then give the hitman the following targets, together with some in Canada, the U.S. prosecutors allege.
Vikash Yadav, often called “Amanat” is an alleged Indian intelligence operative wished in the USA for allegedly directing a plot to assassinate a Canadian-American political activist. Photograph by FBI
The hitman organized to satisfy with Gupta within the Czech Republic to proceed the discussions and planning.
– – – – –
The story purportedly instructed to the American officers at the back of the Czech police van expanded the U.S. investigation and allegations within the probe.
Amanat, stated to have recruited Gupta into the plot, was allegedly recognized as Vikash Yadav, 39, who U.S. officers describe as a authorities worker and a senior subject officer with India’s overseas intelligence service, known as the Analysis and Evaluation Wing.
Final October, U.S. Justice Division officers introduced murder-for-hire and cash laundering costs towards Yadav for steering the foiled assassination plot.
The case is “a grave instance of the rise in deadly plotting and different types of violent transnational repression concentrating on diaspora communities in the USA,” then U.S. assistant lawyer normal Matthew Olsen stated on the time.
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Yadav is accused of offering data on the supposed goal, together with his dwelling addresses, telephone numbers, and different figuring out data. He additionally allegedly was concerned in arranging the $15,000 advance.
Up to now, Yadav stays out of attain. He’s on the FBI’s Most Needed listing.
These formal allegations match the alleged confession attributed to Gupta by the DEA agent in his report.
What isn’t within the brokers’ experiences of Gupta’s arrest in Prague is what Gupta later reported: that he was bodily grabbed by half a dozen Czech police as he walked towards an airport exit and compelled right into a room on the airport, the place he was strip searched, questioned, and ordered to unlock his telephones, which he did.
His legal professionals say Czech police put him at the back of a darkish SUV with tinted home windows between the 2 Individuals as seven Czech officers piled inside with them. He stated the Individuals didn’t establish themselves as regulation enforcement officers and didn’t inform him of his rights, together with his proper to silence.
Nonetheless, Gupta stated by his legal professionals in court docket paperwork, no matter he stated within the van, it wasn’t the incriminating story of being recruited right into a homicide conspiracy by Amanat.
“At no level throughout the automotive experience did Mr. Gupta say something about having somebody in New York Metropolis killed,” his legal professionals stated.
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A display shot of a textual content chat group of U.S. brokers and prosecutors shortly after Nikhil Gupta’s arrest. Photograph by U.S. Court docket
His legal professionals declare the experience within the police van was for much longer than the ten to fifteen minutes the DEA stated it was. Gupta stated he heard a Czech officer inform the Individuals they might take the “lengthy route” to present them added time.
His legal professionals level to time stamps on one among Gupta’s telephones — about 75 minutes handed between Gupta giving the password to Czech police and the DEA agent photographing Amanat’s contact data on it within the van.
Legal professionals additionally level to group chat messages between the DEA officers and prosecutors, wherein the agent stated Gupta was taking part in “f–okay f–okay video games.”
“That isn’t the textual content one would anticipate from an agent who had allegedly … simply obtained an outright confession,” Gupta’s legal professionals argue.
About two and a half hours after his arrest, Gupta was formally interrogated by Czech authorities. No Individuals had been current, Czech officers instructed Gupta’s Czech defence lawyer.
He wasn’t as talkative as he might need been within the police van. The assembly lasted simply 10 minutes, most of which was taken up by him being learn his rights with the assistance of an interpreter.
Gupta instructed the Czechs he got here to Prague for the weekend, “solely for leisure.”
“At current, I’ve nothing to declare, as I don’t even know what costs have been introduced towards me. As soon as I’m knowledgeable of the fees, I’ll reply to them accordingly,” was his assertion which he signed.
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At his court docket listening to the following day, he was supplied a Hindi interpreter, though he additionally speaks English.
After consulting privately together with his lawyer, Gupta made a press release to the court docket: “I consent to extradition to the USA and request that the court docket enable me to buy a aircraft ticket at my very own expense in order that I could journey to the USA as quickly as attainable to testify earlier than the court docket that issued the arrest warrant. I’ll cooperate with U.S. authorities.” The court docket rejected his request to go on his personal.
He additionally, in keeping with the minutes of the listening to by Czech authorities requested the Prague court docket officers to “notify my son in India and my son in Pakistan, in addition to the Indian Embassy in Prague, about my placement in pre-trial detention.”
A screenshot of Nikhil Gupta’s telephone taken in a Czech police van by U.S. brokers displaying a telephone contact for a person often called Amanat, stated to be an agent with India’s intelligence company. Photograph by U.S. Court docket
That half within the paperwork, about him having a son in Pakistan, and elsewhere a reference to him additionally having a Pakistan passport, grabbed consideration in India and Pakistan, two neighbouring international locations with strained and sometimes hostile relations. Gupta denied in court docket appeals that he has Pakistan journey paperwork.
He additionally instructed a court docket in Prague that he disputed the U.S. allegations.
He stated he had no motive to order a homicide and didn’t have the cash to pay somebody $100,000. He additionally, nevertheless, provided a $500,000 surety for his launch on bond pending the end result of his extradition listening to. He stated false accusations could have been motivated by jealousy of his success by somebody who wished to damage his identify and status.
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He then fiercely fought towards extradition, interesting repeatedly till his choices expired. Certainly one of his complaints was that the prosecution towards him had political and “semi-military” pursuits.
He complained of the impromptu interview at the back of the police van by the Individuals, alleging they took his picture and photographs of his journey paperwork and accessed his telephones with out respecting his rights. His lawyer known as that “illegal” conduct. In a Czech excessive court docket ruling, additionally it is stated that in one among Gupta’s appeals, he claimed he was “beneath an obligation, imposed by the Indian intelligence service, to not focus on the matter in any manner.” He appeared a person filled with contradictions.
Paperwork converse of him having a world footprint, together with a six-month visa for Switzerland, actual property offers in Dubai, travels by Asia and Europe, and journeys to Los Angeles and New York.
A court docket in Prague ordered him extradited to the USA final 12 months and he arrived in New York, the place he was taken into U.S. federal custody, in June 2024. He has pleaded not responsible.
It’s uncommon for this insider data and degree of element in an ongoing legal case to be out there publicly, particularly this early within the course of.
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Legal professionals for Gupta in New York, nevertheless, have requested the court docket to suppress some proof and “unlawfully obtained” statements, and to dismiss one of many three costs, that of cash laundering.
In assist of that movement, final month they submitted reams of paperwork into the general public court docket document, together with the proof despatched to Czech officers to assist the U.S. request for Gupta’s arrest, and extra despatched to rebut Gupta’s challenges to his extradition.
At no level throughout the automotive experience did Mr. Gupta say something about having somebody in New York Metropolis killed
Defence legal professionals
Gupta’s legal professionals say the cash laundering cost shouldn’t be prosecuted because it was not included within the unique indictment offered to Czech authorities after they requested Gupta’s arrest. It was an extra cost included in a superseding indictment despatched later. The cost expands the sentencing vary Gupta faces from a 10-year most to twenty years.
Gupta’s legal professionals’ movement additionally complains that Czech police violated Gupta’s rights by interrogating him and acquiring the passwords for his telephones, after which sending the contents of the telephones to U.S. authorities. They need any proof from the telephones to be excluded from Gupta’s prosecution.
In addition they declare the police van interrogation by U.S. officers was an “unconstitutional interrogation” as a result of Gupta was not knowledgeable of his rights previous to the questioning. They need any statements he might need made to be excluded from proof as properly.
These points are being argued in a New York courtroom.
Legal professionals for Gupta and for Pannun didn’t reply to requests for touch upon the case and the allegations. Officers at India’s Excessive Fee in Canada couldn’t be reached for remark previous to publication deadline.
• E-mail: ahumphreys@postmedia.com | X: AD_Humphreys
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