gupta: ‘No crime record against Nikhil Gupta’: DGP Vikas Bahay

The Gujarat Police has said that its files showed there was no crime record against Nikhil Gupta, the Indian national wanted in a foiled plot to murder Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, currently held in Czechia and awaiting extradition to the US.

“We have inquired about the person named Nikhil Gupta. Prima facie inquiry did not find any case against him. I have confirmed with all four commissionerates in Gujarat. All DCPs from the city confirmed that they did not know who Nikhil Gupta was,” DGP Vikas Bahay told ET, on Friday.

The US justice department had on Wednesday said Gupta was indicted with “murderforhire” charges for an alleged plot to kill Pannun in New York a couple of months ago.The US law enforcement authorities had alleged that Gupta, 52, agreed to carry out the plot after he was assured by an Indian government official directing him, codenamed CC1, that a narc case against him in Gujarat would be ‘taken care of.’ DoJ claimed CC1 assured Gupta later, “your Gujarat (case) has been taken care of” and “nobody will ever bother you again.” He also offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a deputy commissioner of police, according to the US federal authorities.

The indictment alleged Gupta had described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC1 and others. However, Gujarat Police insiders said they did not even find a suspicious person named Nikhil Gupta in any case related with arms or drugs smuggling or meddling.