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STORY: An Indian man accused by U.S. prosecutors of orchestrating an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder-for-hire conspiracy charges in a federal court in Manhattan.

Nikhil Gupta also was ordered detained during the hearing. Records from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons show he's being held here: the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

U.S. federal prosecutors allege Gupta plotted with an Indian government official to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. resident who advocated for a sovereign Sikh state in northern India.

Last June, Gupta traveled to Prague from India and was arrested by Czech authorities.

:: Source: Czech Police

Video released on Monday by the Czech police appears to show two New York police officers escorting a handcuffed suspect at the airport in Prague.

Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek said Gupta was extradited to the U.S. on Friday.

The discovery of alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada has tested relations with India. India's government denies involvement in such plots.

:: September 25, 2023

:: Toronto, Canada

:: Surrey, Canada

Canada said in September its intelligence agencies were pursuing allegations linking India's government to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

:: New Delhi

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met India's foreign minister on Monday to discuss bilateral ties between Washington and New Delhi.

New Delhi has long complained about Sikh separatist groups outside India, viewing them as security threats.

The groups have kept alive the movement for Khalistan, or the demand for an independent Sikh state to be carved out of India.

Last month, Washington said it was satisfied so far with India's moves to ensure accountability in the alleged plots, but added that many steps still needed to be taken.