Pannun 'murder row': Supreme Court rejects habeas corpus plea by Nikhil Gupta's family

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a habeas corpus plea filed by the family of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who is detained in the Czech Republic for allegedly conspiring to assassinate Khalistani separatist and US-Canadian citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

A bench headed by justice Sanjiv Khanna observed that since the case is sensitive and involves questions pertaining to international law, it would be appropriate for the Indian government to take a call on the petitioner's plea by considering it as a representation. At the previous hearing in December, the court had refused to grant any interim relief to the family of Gupta.

The family had filed a habeas corpus in the top court seeking intervention of the Indian government for Gupta's release. The bench had then orally observed that prima facie it was of the view that Gupta's family would have to approach a Czech court.


"You have to go before the court which is outside India. We are not going to have an adjudication over here. The person detained has not given the affidavit. If there is violation of any law, you have to go to court over there," SC said at the last hearing.