Jagtar Singh Johal Gets Bail; Yet to Be Released

September

2026

Citing the inordinate delay by the prosecution in producing verifiable evidence, the Delhi High Court (DHC) on 18 Sep granted bail to Jagtar Singh Johal, a British national from Scotland jailed for his alleged role in funding the militant group Khalistan Liberation Force, which had carried out targeted killings in Panjab. 39-year-old Jagtar was arrested in November 2017 when he arrived in Panjab to marry his fiancée. A question remains over whether he was arrested following a tip-off from British intelligence services. Jagtar’s trial was deferred numerous times. In March 2025, he was acquitted in one case, which the prosecution did not challenge. The latest verdict clears the way for his release from jail, after being incarcerated without bail for close to nine years. The seven National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases, lodged between 2017–19 in various divisions of Panjab, include terror law charges, offenses under the Arms Act, as well as murder. DHC found the acquittal of 'strong persuasive value', noting that 'on similar averments, (Jagtar) is being implicated' in seven NIA cases as a co-conspirator. Jagtar’s bail conditions require him to surrender his passport and not join any WhatsApp group or other social media platform where anti-national material is uploaded, circulated, or propagated. Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja noted, 'The pace of the trial has not really picked up' despite repeated Supreme Court of India orders. So far, only 40 of the 123 witnesses have been examined and recorded. Jagtar’s Scotland-based brother Gurpreet Singh Johal said, 'Now, all I can think about is Jagtar walking out of prison. We have waited so long and fought so hard for this moment.' Gurpreet had lobbied a succession of UK foreign secretaries, who have repeatedly admitted the case has dragged on too long but have been reluctant to call publicly for his release, saying they should not interfere in another country’s judiciary. The UN had recognized Jagtar's imprisonment as ‘arbitrary detention’. UK Member of Parliament (MP) for West Dunbartonshire, Douglas McAllister said, 'So relieved to hear this wonderful news this morning. As MP for West Dunbartonshire, I will continue to work with Jagtar’s family and team to push for his return home to Dumbarton, and his family where he belongs. We now need a swift conclusion to all his outstanding cases' (earlier coverage).