Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, a 53-year-old Indian national, was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and extradited to the United States under the bilateral extradition treaty between the U.S. and Czech Republic. Gupta arrived in the U.S. on June 14 and was officially charged on the same day.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that Gupta’s extradition demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting American citizens from harm or suppression. Gupta is accused of participating in a plot, orchestrated by an Indian government employee, to target and assassinate a U.S. citizen due to his support for the Sikh separatist movement in India.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco condemned the murder-for-hire scheme as an attempt to silence a political activist exercising his freedom of speech. FBI Director Christopher Wray reiterated the FBI’s stance against foreign nationals trying to infringe on constitutional rights in the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams applauded the extradition as a sign of unwavering dedication to safeguarding U.S. citizens and their freedoms. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uncovered the plot, linking Gupta to an international narcotics trafficking scheme aimed at assassinating a U.S. citizen.
Court documents reveal that an Indian government employee (referred to as CC-1) collaborated with Gupta to orchestrate the assassination plot on American soil. CC-1, described as a senior field officer with intelligence responsibilities, directed the plot from India and recruited Gupta for assistance.
Gupta, at CC-1’s behest, contacted a confidential source who posed as a hitman to carry out the murder in New York City. CC-1 agreed to pay $100,000 for the hit, with an initial payment of $15,000 made in June 2023. Gupta provided personal information about the victim to facilitate the plot.
The assassination plot took a deadly turn when Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a key figure in the Sikh separatist movement, was murdered outside a temple in Canada. Gupta mentioned Nijjar as another target, indicating an urgency to eliminate the victim in the U.S. following Nijjar’s death. On June 20, 2023, CC-1 sent Gupta a news article regarding the victim and emphasized to Gupta that it was now a top priority. Gupta is facing charges for using interstate commerce with the intent of arranging a murder-for-hire, as well as conspiracy to commit the crime. You can find more information about Gupta’s case in the official court document here.
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