India news: British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail after 9 years in detention
Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been granted bail after more than eight years without trial. Meanwhile, India swapped its male flagbearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony over a missing kit. DW has more.
British Sikh rights advocate Jagtar Singh Johal, held in India for nearly nine years without conviction, has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court, paving the way for his conditional release. Johal, 39, hailed from Dumbarton, Scotland, was initially arrested in Punjab in 2017 following his arrival in India for a wedding. He faced seven murder and terrorism charges, linked to targeted killings between 2016 and 2017.
The court overturned a 2024 decision that had denied him bail, citing his prolonged detention and the slow progress of trials as justifications. Despite the strict conditions imposed under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the court acknowledged that Johal's case has been arbitrary and tortuous, echoing the assessment of a UN working group from 2022.
Johal's brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, expressed relief at the ruling, emphasizing the immense relief felt at the prospect of his brother's eventual freedom.
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