The British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been released from a Delhi prison following a directive from the Indian high court. The court warned the government that it would be found in contempt if it failed to comply with an 18 September order to release him on bail. Johal had been incarcerated for nine years without a full trial.
Court Order and Detention Context
The high court's order came after Johal’s lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus, claiming he was being detained against the court's express direction. Johal's detention on alleged terrorist offenses has strained diplomatic relations between the UK and India. Campaigners argue that the British government has not done enough to secure his release or ensure a full trial.
The campaign group Reprieve stated that Johal's case has not reached a full trial primarily due to the Indian government's failure to present credible witnesses. They allege that Johal transported £3,000 to France to fund a multinational extremist plot involving targeted killings in Punjab between 2016-17.
Developments Leading to Release
On Thursday morning, the Delhi high court instructed the Indian government to release Johal by 2:30 PM Indian time, giving officials three hours to comply or face contempt proceedings. Documents presented by Johal’s lawyers revealed that messages from the prison to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding his release had gone unanswered.
