Scottish Sikh Activist Jagtar Singh Johal Granted Bail After Almost Nine Years in Indian Custody

Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been granted bail in India after almost nine years in custody, according to his family. The 39-year-old from Dumbarton was arrested in Punjab in 2017 over allegations linked to the targeted killings of religious and political figures and has remained detained while facing federal charges.

Johal’s family said they were relieved by the latest decision but were still waiting for details about the conditions attached to his bail and what will happen next in the long-running legal proceedings.

The development marks a significant moment in a case that has attracted sustained attention from his family, supporters, human rights organisations and successive UK governments.

Johal’s brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, has campaigned for his release throughout his brother’s detention and has repeatedly called on the UK government to provide greater diplomatic support.

The family said they were relieved by the Indian court’s decision to grant bail, although the precise terms and practical arrangements surrounding his release were still being clarified.

Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested just weeks after his wedding in India. His supporters have maintained that he was targeted because of his work documenting alleged human rights abuses affecting the Sikh community.

Indian authorities, however, have alleged that Johal was involved in a series of killings and terror-related activity. He has denied the allegations.

Johal has spent almost nine years in detention without a conviction in the outstanding proceedings.

Last year, he was acquitted in a separate case in which he had been accused of financially supporting a terrorist organisation. However, his acquittal in that case did not resolve the other federal charges he continues to face.

The distinction is important: being granted bail does not amount to an acquittal, and the outstanding allegations remain subject to the Indian legal process.

Johal’s prolonged detention has attracted international scrutiny. A United Nations working group previously described his detention as arbitrary in a 2022 opinion.

Johal has also alleged that he was tortured while in custody. Indian authorities have denied the allegation and have maintained that due process has been followed.

Gurpreet Singh Johal has spent years raising his brother’s case with British politicians and officials.

He has previously called for stronger diplomatic intervention from the UK government and has met successive ministers to discuss the case.

Following one meeting with then-Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in December, Gurpreet described the encounter as disappointing.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has previously said it has raised concerns about Jagtar’s prolonged detention with the Indian authorities at appropriate opportunities.

British officials have also maintained that consular assistance has been provided to Johal during his detention.

Johal’s case has become a long-running point of concern for campaigners who argue that he has spent an excessive period in custody without the outstanding allegations reaching a final conclusion.

Campaigners have questioned the evidence against him and have called for his release. Indian authorities have rejected claims that his detention has breached due process.

The case has also raised wider questions about the balance between national security investigations, prolonged pre-trial detention and the rights of defendants facing serious allegations.

For Johal’s family, the granting of bail represents a major development after years of uncertainty. However, the family has indicated that it is awaiting further information about the court’s decision and the next steps.

Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the legal proceedings themselves are not necessarily concluded by the bail decision, and the outstanding federal charges remain an important part of the case.

After almost nine years in detention, the latest ruling could allow Johal to leave custody while the remaining legal process continues, subject to the conditions imposed by the Indian court.

The family’s focus now is expected to turn to the practical arrangements surrounding his release and the future of the outstanding proceedings.