Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot against a Khalistani terrorist on US soil, on Monday pleaded not guilty in the case at a federal court in New York.

Gupta (52) was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday. He was arrested in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist  Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Pannun holds dual American and Canadian citizenship.

Gupta was produced before a federal court in New York, where he pleaded not guilty, according to his attorney, Jeffrey Chabrowe.

The Czech Constitutional Court last month rejected Gupta’s petition against his extradition to the US to face the charges. US federal prosecutors allege that Gupta had been working according to the directions of an unnamed Indian government official.

“This is a complex matter for both our countries,” Gupta’s attorney Chabrowe told PTI ahead of his client’s arraignment in a federal court here. “It is extremely important that we refrain from rushing to conclusions so early in the process. Background and details will develop that may cast government allegations into an entirely new light,” Chabrowe added.

India has denied its involvement in such a case and has instituted a high-level investigation into the allegations.