| In Nikhil Gupta
Indian Murder for Hire Case US Cited
DEA now Another Change of Counsel Set
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
Oct 17 – 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 NYC - 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. Inner
City Press thread
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
On October 17,
the US unsealed a second
superseding indictment naming
a government official, at
large, as co-defendant: Indian
government employee VIKASH
YADAV, a/k/a “Vikas,” 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
On October
25, Gupta's lawyer wrote in
that he is no longer being
paid and asks to withdraw from
the case. Letter on Patreon here.
On October 31, in
the SDNY Magistrates Court,
the change was effectuated -
and Inner City Press was the
only media there, thread
On February 25,
the US Attorney's Office filed
this: "The Ministry of Justice
of the Czech Republic has
since advised DOJ that no
waiver of the rule of
specialty is necessary.. the
Government intends to proceed
to trial on Count Three."
Filing on Patreon here
On March 21 the
parties wrote to Judge Marrero
proposing the trial "any date
in November 2025"
On March 28,
Judge Marrero picked November
3.
On April 10
Federal Defenders wrote to
Judge Marrero that there has
been a breakdown in
communications and Gupta is
requesting a change of
counsel.
On April 11 Inner
City Press live tweeted the
change of counsel, not yet
consummated:
All rise! Judge
Marrero: Mr. Gupta, you are
protected by the attorney
client privilege. I suggest
that before speaking you check
with [outgoing] counsel, who
took over from your retained
counsel back in October.
Motions are due in May, trial
in November.
Judge: Do you
wish to change counsel? Gupta:
Yes. Judge: Granted. New CJA,
could you be ready for trial
in November? CJA: I'll need to
consult with my partners, by
Tuesday
On April 14 that
lawyer said he couldn't do it
- so a former AUSA now at
Milbank was appointed - "The
trial in this matter will
still begin on November 3,
2025"
On June 4 Judge
Marrero granted CJA counsel's
request that Gupta's pro se
motion be denied.
On July 21 the US
Attorney's Office wrote in
that the searches and turn
over of iPhone passwords in
Czechia were fine.
On July 31 Judge
Marrero set hearing on
the admissibility of Gupta's
statements to US law
enforcement after his arrest
in Czechia
On August 5
Gupta's lawyers asked to
expand the scope of the August
12 hearing; the US Attorney's
Office asked until August 6 to
oppose such expansion.
On August 6 the
US Attorney's Office wrote in
that Gupta waived an argument
by not raising it in his
opening brief.
On August 12,
with yellow Khalistan flags
out on Worth Street, "The
Government called DEA Task
Force Officer Jose Sandobal as
its sole witness. The
Defendant declined to call
Special Agent Mark Franks."
On October 17,
another change of plea hearing
for Gupta was set: "ORDER as
to (23-Cr-289-1) Nikhil Gupta.
The Court will hold a
substitution of counsel
hearing in this matter on
October 21, 2025, at 11:30 AM.
SO ORDERED. ( Substitution of
Counsel Hearing set for
10/21/2025 at 11:30 AM before
Judge Victor Marrero. )(Signed
by Judge Victor Marrero on
10/17/2025)."
The case is USA
v. Gupta, et al., 1:23-cr-289
(Marrero)
***
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