Delhi court pressure precedes release of British Sikh activist
Jagtar Singh Johal was released from a Delhi prison after the high court warned Indian authorities they could face contempt proceedings for failing to implement an earlier bail order. Johal has spent nine years in custody without a full trial and continues to face eight terrorism-related federal charges.
British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been released from a Delhi prison after India’s high court ordered authorities to comply with an earlier bail decision. The court had granted Johal bail on September 18, but he remained detained despite his lawyers saying that all conditions had been met. On Thursday, the court directed the Indian government to release him by 2.30pm local time and warned that officials could face contempt proceedings if they failed to comply.
Johal’s lawyers had filed a habeas corpus petition arguing that he was being held against the court’s express direction. Documents presented to the court showed that prison officials had sought release instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs but had not received a response. The petition said continued detention without a court order violated Johal’s fundamental rights.
Prison authorities had reportedly issued release warrants after the bail requirements were completed and told the ministry that there were no further grounds for keeping him in custody. Johal has been detained since November 4, 2017, in connection with terrorism allegations. Indian authorities say he was a member of the Khalistan Liberation Force and had knowledge of a plot involving targeted killings in Punjab.
Johal denies the accusations and says any initial confession was extracted through torture. He was cleared by a Punjab court in a case involving similar allegations but still faces eight federal terrorism charges. His bail conditions include surrendering his passport, providing a personal bond of 500,000 Indian rupees with two sureties, reporting fortnightly to investigators and notifying authorities of any change of residence.
He is also barred from travelling to Punjab or speaking publicly about the case. The detention has created diplomatic tension between Britain and India. Campaign groups Redress and Reprieve welcomed the release, while saying that Johal’s long imprisonment and unresolved charges remained serious concerns.
The UK Foreign Office has supported recent calls for bail.
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