Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against a Sikh extremist on American soil, pleaded not guilty as he was arraigned in federal court here.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that Gupta’s “extradition makes clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens” |
Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against a Sikh extremist on American soil, pleaded not guilty as he was arraigned in federal court here.
Gupta was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on June 14, which court records show as the day of his arrest in the US.
He made his first appearance in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge James Cott on Monday afternoon for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty. Gupta’s attorney Jeffrey Chabrowe entered the “not guilty” plea on his behalf. Gupta is being held in a Brooklyn detention facility.
Gupta is charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each charge.
The next court hearing in the case is on June 28. Court records show that a status conference has been set for June 28 before Judge Victor Marrero. During the initial appearance, Gupta’s lawyer told the judge that his client is a vegetarian and had not been provided a vegetarian meal in the detention facility.
