Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal freed from Indian jail after nine years

A Scottish Sikh campaigner has been granted bail and released from an Indian prison after spending almost nine years in detention without a conviction. Jagtar Singh Johal, 39, from Dumbarton, walked free from gate three of the Tihar Prison complex in Delhi, where he had been held since his arrest in 2017.

Johal thanked “the almighty” upon his departure and was greeted by family members, including his father-in-law and mother-in-law, in the Janakpuri area of the city. Supporters presented him with flowers and a bright orange saropau, a traditional honorary garment signifying respect within Sikh culture. Onlookers celebrated with chants of “Jo hole so nihal, sat Sri Akal,” meaning “whoever utters these words shall be fulfilled true is the eternal timeless Lord.”

The activist was detained in the Punjab region just weeks after his wedding. Indian authorities allege that Johal traveled to Paris in 2013 and provided approximately £3,000 to the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), an armed group seeking a separate Sikh state. Prosecutors claim the funds were used to finance weapons for targeted killings and assassination attempts against religious and political figures in Punjab during 2016 and 2017.

Johal has consistently denied the allegations. His legal team and supporters argue that he was targeted for his blogging on alleged human rights abuses against the Sikh community and was coerced into signing a false confession. They maintain that no concrete evidence has been presented and that the case relies on unreliable witness testimony.

In 2022, a United Nations panel recognized Johal’s imprisonment as arbitrary detention. He has also alleged that he was tortured while in custody, claims that Indian authorities have denied, asserting that due process is being followed.

Last year, Johal was acquitted in one case accusing him of financially supporting the KLF. However, he remained incarcerated because he faces federal charges in eight additional cases, which carry the potential penalty of death. His lawyers have argued that these cases are nearly identical and should be dismissed.

Bail was initially granted by the Delhi High Court on September 18, but Johal was not released until recently. The bail order noted that the trial was “certainly not likely to conclude anytime soon,” following hundreds of hearings over the past nine years. As part of his release conditions, Johal must surrender his passport and is prohibited from speaking to the media regarding the case.

At his family home in Dumbarton, relatives celebrated the news. His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, who had lobbied governments for his release, described the moment as a “first step” and a “step in the right direction.”

“There have been so many setbacks and disappointments in the last nine years that I didn’t dare to believe it until I saw Jagtar walking out of the prison gates with my own eyes,” Gurpreet said. “I’ll sleep well tonight, knowing that he’s not behind bars. Tomorrow morning, the fight continues. We’ll keep on fighting until he’s home with us.”

Human rights advocates cautioned that the ordeal is not over. Dan Dolan of Reprieve UK highlighted that Johal still faces the threat of a death sentence and “onerous” bail conditions that prevent a return to normal life. Chris Esdaile, a senior legal advisor at Reprieve, described the prolonged uncertainty as amounting to psychological torture and urged that the remaining charges be dropped immediately.