Pannun 'murder plot' case: Nikhil Gupta forced to eat beef, family tells Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The family of Nikhil Gupta, the man accused by the United States of conspiring to kill India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has told the Supreme Court that Gupta has been tortured with "forced consumption of beef and pork" that he found offensive as he is a "devout Hindu and vegetarian".

While they claimed "grave violations of fundamental rights" the Supreme Court has told the family to approach a court in the Czech Republic for relief on their claims that his religious and human rights were violated.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti observed that Gupta has to approach the concerned court for relief, which is in the Czech Republic.

The Court refused immediate relief, and told the petitioner to file a copy with the government before setting the next date for January 4.

The petition, filed by Gupta's family member identified only as Mr X, claimed Gupta's detention in Prague was "illegal" and said there were fears to his life as a "law-abiding citizen."

The petition stated, "... circumstances (of the arrest in Prague) were marked by irregularities, with no formal arrest warrant presented, and the apprehension executed by self-claimed US agents rather than local Czech authorities." 

The Court, however, acknowledged this to be an "extremely sensitive matter" for the Ministry of External Affairs.