The Supreme Court, in a recent development, postponed the hearing on the habeas corpus plea filed for Nikhil Gupta, an accused in the purported conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States. The petition highlighted concerns that during Gupta’s arrest in the Czech Republic, the protocols were not followed, alleging that he, a devout Hindu, was forced to eat beef and pork against his religious beliefs.
Adjourning the matter until January 4, the Supreme Court advised the petitioners to seek recourse in the Czech court system. “You need to approach the court outside India. We won’t make a judgment here. The detained individual hasn’t filed an affidavit. If there’s a violation of any law, you must address it in that court,” remarked a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SV Bhatti, as reported by Bar and Bench.
The petitioner, claiming to be a family member of Nikhil Gupta, cited irregularities in Gupta’s arrest, emphasizing a lack of a formal arrest warrant and alleging that the apprehension was carried out by purported US agents instead of local Czech authorities. The petition detailed Gupta’s forced interaction with individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers, who allegedly confiscated his phone, utilized face ID to access it, and even photographed him against his will.
Furthermore, the petition stressed Gupta’s religious plight, asserting that despite being a law-abiding businessman, his visit to the Czech Republic turned into a distressing ordeal due to an illegal arrest, language barriers, and inadequate assistance. The petitioner cited violations of Articles 14, 19, and 21, along with the right to religious freedom.
The plea referenced Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, safeguarding individuals from unwarranted intrusions into their privacy and protecting their honor and reputation.
Regarding the reported plot, Gupta’s arrest in the Czech Republic earlier this year allegedly stemmed from suspicions of a planned assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This event led to diplomatic tensions between India and the United States, as the indictment filed in New York implicated Gupta and an Indian intelligence official identified as CC-1.
The incident gained further attention due to its occurrence shortly after Canada accused individuals linked to the Indian government of involvement in the murder of Canadian Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.
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