Jagtar Singh Johal Released From Delhi Prison After Nine Years
British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal was released from a Delhi prison after the Indian high court warned the government it would face contempt proceedings for failing to comply with an earlier bail order.
The high court intervention followed a writ of habeas corpus filed by Johal’s lawyers. The petition stated that prison officials refused to release him despite meeting 11 bail conditions because the Ministry of Home Affairs left prison inquiries unanswered.
Thursday’s Release Order and Court Warning
On Thursday morning, the high court in Delhi instructed the Indian government to release Johal by 2.30pm Indian time. The bench gave government officials a three-hour compliance window or face immediate contempt of court proceedings. Documents presented to the bench on behalf of Johal’s father-in-law showed that prison authorities sought clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the bail order, but received no response.
Legal counsel argued before the court that keeping Johal in custody amounted to a daily violation of his fundamental rights under article 21 of the constitution of India. By late afternoon, Johal walked out of the prison gates wearing a red T-shirt, where family members and friends greeted him with flowers.
Charges and Background of the Nine-Year Detention
Johal has been in custody since November 4, 2017. Indian authorities filed eight charges of terrorism against him in a federal court, alleging he was a member of the Khalistan Liberation Force with complete knowledge of a conspiracy involving targeted killings in the Punjab during 2016 and 2017. Prosecutors alleged he transported £3,000 to France to fund the multinational extremist plot.
Campaign groups dispute the viability of the prosecution’s case. Reprieve stated that the case never reached a full trial because the Indian government failed to assemble credible witnesses supporting the financial and operational allegations. Johal previously maintained that initial confessions obtained by authorities during the early stages of his detention were extracted under torture. While he faces federal charges, a Punjab court previously cleared him of largely similar allegations.
Bail Conditions and Ongoing Legal Battles
The high court bail terms imposed strict requirements on Johal, including the surrender of his passport and a personal bond of 500,000 Indian rupees, equivalent to roughly £3,930, backed by two sureties. Additional mandates required fortnightly reporting to an investigating officer, advance notification of any residence changes, a strict travel ban to the Punjab, and a prohibition against speaking directly or indirectly to the media about the case.
Family members and advocates emphasize that his legal struggles persist despite his physical release from prison walls. Dumbarton-based brother Gurpreet Singh Johal expressed relief mixed with ongoing anxiety over the remaining charges, stating: “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. The last two weeks have been torture – knowing that Jagtar had been granted bail, but the authorities were refusing to let him out. I’ll sleep well tonight, knowing that he’s not behind bars.”
Reprieve deputy executive director Dan Dolan noted the severity of the continued legal jeopardy, stating: “While tonight is the first night in almost nine years that Jagtar Singh Johal is not caged in a prison cell, he still has the threat of a death sentence hanging over him. It should also be noted that, despite bail being ordered, the prison refused to release Jagtar until his family brought a habeas corpus petition and a judge warned the jail they’d be found in contempt of court.”