Gupta is said to have spoken to his family over the phone just days before entering the plea. However, he did not indicate that he was about to admit guilt.
In a country of this scale, even large mobilisations can happen without paralysing the nation. Calling every protest “unprecedented” or proof of systemic collapse is misleading.
It is plausible that Yunus, recognising the dwindling support and looming consequences of his failed plans, may ultimately seek refuge in a Western country, where he hopes to escape the repercussions of his actions and preserve his legacy—if one can still be salvaged. With Yunus ageing, the window for his political revival is all but closed.
Nikhil Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in Prague in June 2023 at the request of US authorities and extradited to the USA in June 2024. He has been jailed in Brooklyn ever since. In November 2023, officials from the US Justice Department announced charges against Gupta.