Overview

• Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh from Scotland, has been detained in India since 2017 on charges linked to an alleged coerced confession under torture.
• Despite being acquitted of all charges in a Punjab court in March 2025, Johal remains imprisoned due to duplicate federal cases under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
• India’s Supreme Court deferred Johal’s bail petition on May 1, 2025, potentially prolonging his detention until after the summer.
• Over 100 cross-party UK MPs and peers have signed a letter urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to take urgent diplomatic action to secure Johal’s release.
• Human rights groups, including Reprieve, highlight concerns over arbitrary detention, legal delays, and the misuse of anti-terror laws in Johal’s case.