Pannun ‘murder plot’: SC to hear plea of Indian accused’s family on January 4

“You will have to go to the court concerned…We will not go to all this. We will not have an adjudication over here. It is an extremely sensitive matter for the Ministry of External Affairs or that matter any ministry to come in. It is for them to decide,” Justice Khanna told senior advocate C Aryama Sundaram, who appeared for the petitioner.

Sundaram told the bench, “We are not getting any assistance. Today we do not even have an extradition order. We do not know what is happening.”

Though the plea urged the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus to the Centre and Indian embassy in Prague “to immediately trace and produce the petitioner who is currently in detention/custody at Pankarac prison in Prague, Czech Republic”, Sundaram said he is not pressing that prayer.

“I do not want an adjudication. That is why I am not pressing prayer at all,” he said, adding that all he was saying is that as for any Indian citizen, the Ministry of External Affairs through the ambassador in Prague could help the family get in touch with Gupta.

The court said it would not pass any order on the request.

Sundaram then took the bench through the second indictment filed in the US in connection with the case. Justice Khanna remarked that the case file came to him late Thursday night and he had not gone through it in detail.

Sundaram urged the court to hear it after the New Year and Christmas holidays. “There is something I require, at least a status report to assist me with. Please see what crossfire I am caught with,” he said.

Agreeing, the bench fixed January 4 to hear it next.

Sundaram also requested the bench to hear it in-chamber when it takes it up next. Justice Khanna said he would look into it.