Indian courts don't have jurisdiction in Nikhil Gupta case: Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has said that Indian courts have no jurisdiction in Nikhil Gupta's case, the Indian Express has reported.

The family of the Indian man accused by US of plotting to kill a Khalistani leader in New York had filed a petition in India's Supreme Court on December 15 seeking its intervention.

Gupta is currently in a Czech jail after being arrested on landing in Prague on June 30. Czech authorities said that the arrest had been made at the behest of US officials.

The Indian Express reported that the Czech Ministry of Justice denied claims that Gupta was not given access to India's consular officials or that he was forced to eat pork and beef inspite of being a vegetarian.

'The Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic does not have any information, nor has received any complaints from Mr Nikhil Gupta or his defence counsel that he was not allowed to contact the consular office of the Republic of India (if he has requested for it). Likewise, the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic does not have any information, nor has received any complaints that Mr Nikhil Gupta has been provided with an inappropriate diet,' the Indian Express qupted the Czech spokesperson as saying.

Family of Nikhil Gupta told the Supreme Court of India on December 15 that he is being threatened.

They said that Nikhil Gupta was not arrested at the immigration as per norm on his arrival in Prague but outside the airport by people claiming to be 'American agents' after all the formalities were over.

His family has claimed that Gupta was arrested illegally and that he is being forced to eat beef and pork despite being a vegetarian.

The family's plea also claims that the Indian Embassy in Prague had not been informed about Gupta's arrest or detention.

He, his family has claimed, was also not allowed to contact his family and his phone was seized.

Gupta's family has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter and also in the process of his extradition to the US.

US federal prosecutors on November 29 charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist, who is an American and Canadian citizen.

(with PTI inputs)

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