British lawmakers are urgently calling on Foreign Secretary David Lammy to intervene in the case of Jagtar Singh Johal detention, after the UK citizen detained in India for seven years faced another setback. On Thursday, India’s Supreme Court deferred his bail hearing, possibly until after summer. The delay in the Jagtar Singh Johal detention has sparked outrage among MPs and human rights advocates.
A prolonged injustice continues for Johal, who was acquitted in March in one case but remains jailed. Despite no convictions since his 2017 arrest, he faces terror-related charges in federal courts. The 36-year-old from Dumbarton, Scotland, denies all allegations, claiming he was tortured into signing a blank confession. This highlights the Jagtar Singh Johal detention issues within the judiciary.
The UN has labeled his detention arbitrary, while 117 cross-party MPs and peers demand Lammy escalate diplomatic pressure. They argue a “window of opportunity” exists after Johal’s recent acquittal. The charges in both cases rely on identical evidence, making the ongoing Jagtar Singh Johal detention questionable.
A prolonged injustice continues as Johal’s family condemns the delays. His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, a Labour councillor, warned Lammy must act now. “This is a make-or-break moment,” he said. “The UK cannot fail him again.”
Campaign group Reprieve highlights that Jagtar Singh Johal detention is tangled in broader debates over India’s anti-terror laws. Critics say these laws misuse pre-trial detention to suppress dissent. Johal’s double jeopardy risk being tried twice for the same offense further undermines justice.
A prolonged injustice continues while Johal awaits freedom. Reprieve’s Dan Dolan called the prosecution “politically motivated,” stressing, “The process is the punishment.” With no credible evidence presented in seven years, activists urge the UK to secure Singh Johal’s release from detention.
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