| Gupta in Indian
Murder for Hire Case Wants Hindi
Lawyer As Doval Skipping UNGA
Noted
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
Oct 18 – Back in late 2023 in
the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York, a superseding indictment
was unsealed alleging
murder-for-hire charges
against Indian national Nikhil
Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in
connection with his
participation in a foiled plot
to assassinate a U.S. citizen
in New York City - reportedly
Sikh Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Czech authorities
arrested and detained Gupta in
Prague’s Pankrac prison.
On June 17, 2024,
Gupta was presented in the
SDNY Magistrates Court. While
Inner City Press is often the
only media there - for only
one example, in a gun case on
June 14, continued into June
17 - this time the gallery was
full, including with Indian
journalists. With some new and
we hope temporary
restrictions, Inner City Press
thread:
AUSA: Mr Gupta
was extradited in. We will
make voluntary consular
notification.
Judge: You are
charged with murder for hire.
Retained defense counsel: He
pleads not guilty.
AUSA: We seek
detention. Defense: We
consent; we'll confer before
Judge Marrero next week. My
client is a vegetarian.
Magistrate Judge
James L. Cott: There are
others in the MDC
[Metropolitan Detention
Center] who are vegetarians,
it shouldn't be a problem.
On June 28, with
Khalistan protesters out on
Worth Street, Gupta was
produced by US Marshals before
Judge Victor Marrero. Inner
City Press was there - thread:
AUSA: The
defendant on behalf of an
Indian gov't employee sought a
hitman... We have video.
AUSA: We ask for
60 days. Defense lawyer: Aug
30? Judge: Sept 13, 1 pm
But late on
September 12, the US
Attorney's Office wrote in:
"The parties write in light of
the rescheduling of the status
conference scheduled for
September 13, 2024 at 1:00
p.m. in the above referenced
case." No notice to those
interested in the case? Letter
on Patreon here
On September 13,
the morning of the 1 pm
hearing, the letter motion was
granted: "ORDER as to Nikhil
Gupta: The status conference
scheduled currently scheduled
for September 13, 2024, is
hereby adjourned to October
18, 2024."
On October 17,
the US unsealed a second
superseding indictment naming
a government official, at
large, as co-defendant: "the
filing of murder-for-hire and
money laundering charges
against Indian government
employee VIKASH YADAV, a/k/a
“Vikas,” a/k/a “Amanat,” in
connection with his role in
directing a foiled plot to
assassinate a U.S. citizen in
New York City. YADAV is at
large."
On October 18,
Inner City Press live tweeted
- and later asked Sikhs
demonstrating on Worth Street
why Modi security official
Ajit Doval did not come to the
US for the UN General
Assembly... Thread:
Judge: The
superseding indictment has
counts of murder for hire and
money laundering. How do you
plead?
Gupta: I am not
carrying my glasses, I have
not read it, I need
time.Judge: We will pause,
then- Defense lawyer: Just a
second... He is clear, I read
it to me. Gupta: I plead not
guilty
Judge:
We're not there yet. Gupta: My
English is not good. Judge:
Now, how do you plead?
Gupta: Not
guilty... My lord, I have an
oral submission...
Judge: Let me ask
the US about discovery. AUSA:
Nearly complete. Judge: By
when? AUSA: Next week
Defense lawyer:
In MDC, Mr. Gupta needs access
to the law library to listen
to the recordings. Also, his
notes in the Czech Republic,
they are privileged. We got
more last night. Also, Mr.
Gupta wants his prayer book
AUSA: When he was
extradited, there were
personal items: the novel The
Optimist, the notes have been
scanned. Also notebooks and
loose notes. The defense has
not provided a orivilege log
AUSA: We have not
found a prayer book. [A man in
a National Sikh Day Parade
jacket comes into courtroom
gallery] Defense lawyer: Mr.
Gupta has religious rights.
AUSA: Come and inspect the
items
Defense lawyer:
Mr. Gupta informs me he wants
a new counsel, perhaps one who
speaks Hindi. Judge: Let's get
a court date first... January
17 at noon. Defense
lawyer: My client has a letter
to submit to the court. Judge:
Only through you
Defense
lawyer: I will file on the
docket. Adjourned.
The case is US v.
Gupta, et al., 23-cr-289
(Marrero)
***
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