Dishantar Correspondent from London: Over 100 MPs and peers in the UK have signed a letter encouraging foreign secretary David Lammy to take “quick and decisive action” through diplomatic channels to secure the release of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh national who has been jailed in India since 2017 on terrorism charges.
Johal, also known as Jaggi, is detained in Tihar jail in New Delhi, where he claims he is innocent of all charges he faces, which include terrorism, murder of political and religious figures, and connections with Khalistan Liberation Force.
Johal, in his late 30s, is accused of funding terrorist acts and conspiracy in the execution of alleged crimes, however he is not accused of direct involvement in the alleged events.
His member of parliament, Douglas McAllister, initiated the letter which was addressed to Lammy, saying Johal was acquitted on March 4, 2025 in one of nine cases he is facing at Moga district court in Punjab charged with terrorism including “no credible evidence”.
The letter outlines the cases against Johal as being based on the same evidence and with the other eight cases now being brought under NIA the remaining cases should also be terminated.
The Supreme Court declined to rule on Johal’s seven pending bail applications last week, and has not indicated when those applications will be resolved.
The letter called his detention “arbitrary” and states that Johal suffered torture and that he was “forced to give a confessional statement”. The British lawmakers are asking Lammy to speak to Indian authorities about Johal being released on bail, whilst the proceedings against him are discontinued.
Lammy is scheduled to meet Gurpreet Singh Johal, Jagtar’s brother, on May 8. “The Indian authorities will keep him in prison for decades if the UK government does not act,” Gurpreet said.
The UK government has poorly raised concerns with India about Johal’s case, including allegations of torture, mistreatment and the manner of his treatment, however, activists have deemed the government’s response inadequate.
“For him to be imprisoned for decades, as duplicate trials continue and effectively rebut the principle of double jeopardy, would be an obscene injustice,” said Dan Dolan, interim deputy executive director Reprieve US, a human rights organisation.