New York/IBNS: A New York court has sought material from the federal government proving the charges against Indian man Nikhil Gupta in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on the American soil, media reports said.

The court has asked the federal government to respond to a motion filed by Gupta's lawyers.

In an order dated January 8, US District Judge Victor Marrero said, "On January 4, 2024, defense counsel filed a motion to compel production of discovery, requesting that the Court enter an order directing the Government to begin providing defense counsel with discovery material.

"The Court hereby directs the Government to file a reply to the Motion to Compel within three days of the date of this order."

The US has claimed an Indian official had directed an attempt to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is an American and Canadian citizen.

US authorities have claimed 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta and an Indian government employee held a number of telephonic conversations, where the latter was heard asking Gupta to orchestrate a murder.

As per a report, the two even had met in Delhi. Gupta had tried to hire a hitman, who later turned out to be an undercover federal agent of the US.

India designated Pannun as the terrorist in 2020.

Gupta, accused by the US government of a plot to kill Pannun, has been in custody in Prague for approximately six months.