Scottish Sikh Activist Jagtar Singh Johal Released on Bail After Nearly Nine Years in Indian Custody

Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish Sikh activist from Dumbarton, has been released from prison in India after being detained for almost nine years without a conviction. The 39-year-old walked free from detention following a bail order granted by the Delhi High Court on 18 September, though his release from custody only materialised later.

Johal was arrested in the Punjab region in 2017, just weeks after his wedding in the country. Indian authorities accuse him of involvement in a series of targeted killings of religious and political figures—allegations he has consistently denied throughout his near-decade-long incarceration.

The bail conditions imposed on Johal include the surrender of his passport, effectively preventing him from leaving India. He is also barred from speaking to the media about the case, limiting his ability to publicly discuss his experience or the charges against him.

According to the prosecution's case, Johal allegedly travelled to Paris in 2013 and handed approximately £3,000 to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), an armed organisation that has carried out violent attacks in pursuit of a separate Sikh state. Indian authorities claim this money was used to fund weapons employed to kill or attempt to kill religious and political figures in Punjab during 2016 and 2017.

The Indian government further alleges that Johal is a member of the KLF and that "he actively participated and had complete knowledge of the conspiracy." These accusations form the basis of the federal charges he continues to face in eight separate cases, for which he potentially faces the death penalty.

However, Johal's supporters present a markedly different narrative. They contend he was targeted for blogging about alleged human rights abuses against the Sikh community in India and was coerced into signing a false confession regarding participation in the killings.

His family maintains that no concrete evidence has ever been presented against him, arguing that the case was constructed on the testimony of unreliable witnesses. This position has been echoed by legal charities and human rights organisations that have closely followed his case.

In a significant development, Johal's imprisonment was recognised by a United Nations panel as arbitrary detention in 2022. He has also claimed to have been tortured while in custody—a claim Indian authorities have previously denied while repeatedly maintaining that due process is being followed.

Last year, Johal was acquitted in a case where he was accused of financially supporting the KLF terror group. Despite this acquittal, he remained in prison because he faces federal charges in eight other cases, highlighting the complex legal landscape surrounding his detention.

His legal team argues that these remaining cases are almost identical to the one in which he was acquitted and that the other charges should be dismissed. The bail order itself acknowledges the protracted nature of the proceedings, concluding that the trial is "certainly not likely to conclude anytime soon." Over the past nine years, there have been hundreds of hearings, underscoring the slow pace of the legal process.

His brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, who has lobbied successive governments calling for his release, described the decision to grant bail as a "really important milestone." He added: "It is just a first step, but it is a step in the right direction."

The move was also welcomed by politicians and the legal charities Redress and Reprieve, which represent Johal in the UK. Dan Dolan, deputy executive director of Reprieve, said the release was "a really important moment" but cautioned that Johal still faced the death penalty on what he described as "trumped up charges."

"It is really important that we recognise he's not out of the woods yet," Dolan said. "We now really need to push to get him home." This sentiment reflects ongoing concerns about Johal's legal jeopardy despite his release from custody.

Redress also commented on the development, stating that Johal's release from prison could not undo "the intolerable suffering caused by nine years of arbitrary detention." The organisation's response highlights the broader human rights implications of the case, which has attracted international attention.

The case has drawn scrutiny from human rights advocates who question the fairness of the legal proceedings against Johal. His detention has become a focal point for discussions about the treatment of Sikh activists and minority communities in India, as well as broader concerns about due process and the use of anti-terror legislation.

Johal's release on bail represents a significant development in a case that has spanned nearly a decade, involved multiple legal proceedings, and generated considerable diplomatic and public interest. However, with his passport surrendered and eight cases still pending, the path to his eventual return to Scotland remains uncertain.

The coming months will likely see continued efforts by his family, legal representatives, and supporters to secure the dismissal of the remaining charges and ultimately bring him home. For now, Johal's release from prison marks a pivotal moment in a long-running saga that has tested the limits of international advocacy and the patience of those who have campaigned tirelessly for his freedom.