According to reports, a bench consisting of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sanjiv Khanna stated that as the issue is sensitive, the Indian government would determine the best course of action.
Why is this story important?
Businessman Gupta, who is headquartered in Delhi, was arrested in the Czech Republic in June of last year. The United States charged him in November of that same year with planning to assassinate Pannun, the head of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Gupta was enlisted by an Indian government operative to plan Pannun’s assassination in the US.
Gupta had apparently hired an undercover federal agent to assassinate the Khalistani commander at the agent’s instigation.
Observe foreign court jurisdiction: SC bench
Senior advocate CA Sundaram, speaking on behalf of Gupta’s family, was also informed by the SC bench that the court ought to honor the foreign court’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and local legal system.
It cannot, therefore, discuss the merits of the situation.
The bench was quoted by The New Indian Express as adding, “You are entitled for consular access under the Vienna convention, which you have already got.”
US charges Gupta of being involved in an assassination plot
India described the US charges against Gupta in relation to the abortive attempt to kill a Khalistani leader as “matter of concern.”
Subsequently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that it has started a high-level inquiry into the US’s accusations.
The tragedy happened barely two months after Canada declared that “credible” claims had been made that Indian operatives were responsible for the June assassination of another Khalistani leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Details of the Gupta family’s SC petition
Gupta’s family had earlier said he was kept in isolation in jail and that his religious convictions were being violated by being made to eat meat and pork.
“The petitioner contends that the circumstances surrounding his arrest were marked by irregularities, with no formal arrest warrant presented,” according to the petition.
Moreover, it stated that American agents who “self-claimed” themselves as the ones who made the arrest rather than Czech local officials.