British Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal has been granted bail in seven Indian cases after almost nine years in custody, bringing relief to his UK family, reports Asian Lite News Desk
British Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal has been granted bail in seven cases in India after almost nine years in custody, prompting relief among his family, supporters and politicians in the UK.
The Delhi High Court ruled on Friday that Johal’s prolonged detention and the slow progress of his trials justified his release on bail. The 39-year-old from Dumbarton has been held in India since his arrest in Punjab in November 2017, shortly after travelling to the country for his wedding.
Labour MP Jas Athwal, who represents Ilford South, welcomed the development and said Johal’s family had spent years campaigning for him to return home.
“After nine long years, Jagtar Singh Johal has finally been granted bail in all seven cases brought against him by the Indian authorities,” Athwal said.
He added that the decision would bring “immense relief” to Johal’s family, while referring to allegations that he had faced torture and solitary confinement. Those allegations have been disputed, and Johal’s case has continued to attract scrutiny from human rights organisations and UK politicians.
The Delhi High Court’s decision followed a Supreme Court ruling in July 2026 which sent Johal’s bail appeals back to the High Court for fresh consideration. The High Court said Johal had spent more than eight years in custody, while only 40 prosecution witnesses had been examined and another 123 remained.
The court said the trial was “certainly not likely to conclude any time soon”, despite previous directions from the Supreme Court to speed up proceedings. It also rejected the argument that Johal’s status as a foreign national was, by itself, sufficient reason to keep him in custody.
Johal faces charges under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act in cases concerning alleged conspiracies linked to targeted killings and other violence in Punjab. Prosecutors have alleged links to the banned Khalistan Liberation Force. Johal has denied the allegations.
His bail comes with strict conditions. He must surrender his passport, provide a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh with two sureties, report regularly to investigators and comply with restrictions on contact with witnesses. He has also been barred from making public statements about the merits of the cases and from using social media to share or circulate material described by the court as “anti-national”.
The ruling does not amount to an acquittal and the cases against Johal remain ongoing.
Johal’s family has welcomed the decision but said the process is not complete until he is able to return to Scotland. His brother Gurpreet Singh Johal said the family had waited years for the moment when Jagtar could walk out of prison.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney also welcomed reports of the bail decision, describing it as significant after Johal had spent almost nine years detained in India.
The case has become a longstanding consular and human rights issue in the UK, with Johal’s detention attracting sustained campaigning from his family, supporters and British politicians.
The latest ruling marks a major development in the case, although Johal’s legal battle in India is not yet over.
