Russia thwarts US allegations that an Indian official plotted to kill Pannun

Russia has sided with India in a dispute with the United States. The US has accused an Indian intelligence official of plotting to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, however, Russia claims US lacks credible information to support these accusations.

Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday (May 8), Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “Washington has not provided any credible evidence so far that Indian citizens are involved in the plot to kill Pannun. Since there is no concrete evidence, the claims are not acceptable and they are regular groundless accusations by the US against New Delhi.”

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Zakharova, took a swipe at the US government, saying they seem clueless about India's history and culture, as America continues to make unfounded accusations about religious freedoms. "Washington’s actions clearly constitute interference in India’s internal affairs… They are not respecting India as a state.”

Last year in November, US, via an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan, stated that an Indian official was working with 52-year-old Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta in the plot to kill Pannun. Guptawas arrested by Czech authorities and charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

According to the indictment, the officer, referred to as CC-1, is a senior field officer with experience in security management and intelligence and is an Indian government agency employee.

In May 2023, CC-1 allegedly recruited Nikhil Gupta to assassinate Pannun in the United States. The indictment further claims that CC-1 assured Gupta of protection by stating his previous legal troubles in Gujarat would be taken care of and no one would bother him again.

Additionally, CC-1 reportedly offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a high-ranking police official.

Earlier this week, the Constitutional Court in Prague, which is the highest court of the Czech Republic, halted the extradition of Nikhil Gupta to the United States, as reported by The Indian Express.

Czech Justice Ministry spokesperson Markéta Andrová said that the court's decision meant the justice minister could not decide on extradition or refusal until the Constitutional Court decided on the merits of the complaint filed by Gupta.

(With inputs from agencies)