In a plotline straight out of a spy thriller, Indian national Nikhil Gupta has been extradited to the U.S. to face charges in an alleged scheme to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a U.S. citizen. Skip your Netflix subscription for a moment; this shocking international crime drama is premiering in courtrooms instead.

Gupta stands accused of collaborating with an Indian government official to eliminate Pannun, an outspoken advocate for an independent Sikh state in northern India. For those keeping track, this is not your usual everyday crime but a tale of international intrigue and high-stakes plotting.

The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against Gupta last November, following his June arrest in the Czech Republic. When your crime spree spans continents, why not add a picturesque European backdrop, right? Since his extradition, Gupta has been cooling his heels at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The plot itself sounds like it was lifted from a John le Carré novel. Gupta allegedly contacted a source for the Drug Enforcement Administration, being savvy like that. Unfortunately for him, the source introduced Gupta to an undercover DEA officer posing as a hitman. Nice try, Gupta, but maybe next time leave the hitman-hiring to the professionals. For his ambitious plan, Gupta apparently offered a cool $100,000, because nothing says "I mean business" quite like six figures.

India’s government has categorically denied any involvement in the assassination plots aimed at Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada. It's almost like the diplomatic version of "who, me?" This isn't exactly helping strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Western nations.

To add to the drama, in June 2023, another Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot and killed in Canada. Gupta, ever the master braggart, boasted about Nijjar's killing and ominously hinted that more targets were in the crosshairs. Netflix executives must be kicking themselves—they couldn't script this better if they tried.

Canada’s intelligence agencies, continuing the international subplot, are investigating alleged links between the Indian government and the murder of Nijjar. Because, let's face it, the Great White North rarely gets this much intrigue beyond its Mounties and maple syrup.

India has long viewed Sikh separatist groups outside the country as significant security threats. So, this unfortunate chapter in international relations has historical roots. But whether history can offer any solace to those caught in the middle remains doubtful.

After all this cloak-and-dagger action, Gupta finds himself facing charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. It’s a far cry from the globe-trotting escapades he seemed to envision for himself. The only international travel in his future likely involves prison transfers, not exotic locales.

As we watch this real-life drama unfold, one thing is certain: sometimes the truth is stranger, and infinitely more dramatic, than fiction. So, set aside the popcorn and brace yourselves—the courtroom is the new binge-watch destination.