NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The household of an Indian man in Czech custody, whom the U.S. accuses of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, on Friday requested India’s prime courtroom to direct the federal government to present him consular help.

The man, Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of working with an Indian authorities official on the plot to kill a New York City resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.

Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June when he travelled from India to Prague and is awaiting extradition to the U.S.

The Gupta household petition mentioned he was “illegally detained” in Prague, denied the best to contact his household in India and the liberty to hunt authorized illustration.

It requested the courtroom direct the Indian authorities to supply Gupta with consular help to make sure he will get a good extradition listening to in Prague.

The courtroom posted the petition for listening to on Jan. 4.

India has expressed concern about considered one of its authorities officers being linked to the plot, from which it dissociated itself, and mentioned it will perform its personal investigation.

The Indian overseas ministry spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark from Reuters on Friday.

The case is delicate for each Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities and the Biden administration as they attempt to construct nearer ties within the face of an ascendant China perceived as a menace for each democracies.

It comes two months after Canada mentioned there have been “credible” allegations linking Indian brokers to the June homicide of a Sikh separatist chief, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in a Vancouver suburb, a rivalry India has rejected.

(Editing by YP Rajesh and Christina Fincher)

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