Indian court grants bail to British Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal

Relatives and advocates for Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh blogger detained in India for almost nine years, said on Friday he has been granted bail and should be released within days. Johal, from Dumbarton in west Scotland, was detained in November 2017 while in India for his wedding.

Who is Jagtar Singh Johal?

Jagtar Singh Johal is a 39-year-old Sikh rights blogger from Dumbarton, Scotland. He was arrested in India in November 2017 over an alleged plot to kill right wing Hindu leaders, a charge his family and campaigners have long disputed. He had travelled to India for his wedding when he was detained.

Why was Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail?

The Delhi High Court granted Johal bail on Friday after judges asked prosecutors to present evidence justifying his continued detention. Reprieve, the British charity that has campaigned for his release, said prosecutors were unable to do so. A court had already acquitted Johal of one terrorism linked charge in March 2025, and he has now been granted bail on the eight other charges against him, including conspiracy to murder. Reprieve said the remaining charges essentially duplicate the dismissed one. Johal was previously denied bail in 2024.

What has Jagtar Singh Johal's family said?

His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, said in a video posted on X that Jagtar will be released on bail in the coming days, calling it really, really good news. He said the family had waited so long and fought so hard for this moment, in a statement released by Reprieve. Johal's MP, Douglas McAllister, welcomed the amazing news on social media and said his constituent had been held in arbitrary detention, adding that it was time to bring him home.

What conditions will Jagtar Singh Johal face after release?

Reprieve's deputy executive director, Dan Dolan, warned that bail conditions are likely to be onerous and that Johal will still be facing the death penalty if convicted on the remaining charges. The Delhi High Court is expected to release a detailed order on the bail decision, according to the Indian news website Live Law.

What have UN experts said about Jagtar Singh Johal's detention?

United Nations experts warned in April that Johal's detention amounted to psychological torture and demanded his immediate release. Experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council said Johal was held incommunicado for 10 days after he was first seized, during which he was allegedly subjected to electric shocks and threats of being killed. They also cited reports that his detention conditions had worsened over time, with restrictions on family contact, limited access to basic hygiene and periods of solitary confinement.