After nearly nine grueling years of unjust imprisonment, British-Sikh human rights advocate and blogger Jagtar Singh Johal (“Jaggi”) has walked out of Tihar Jail on bail.

Jagtar, a 39-year-old native of Dumbarton, Scotland, was abducted by Indian authorities while in Punjab for his wedding in November 2017. Since then, he has endured severe physical and psychological torture, prolonged pre-trial detention, and a sham legal process that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention officially declared illegal and arbitrary.

While today’s news marks a monumental relief for Jagtar, his family, and supporters worldwide, Voices For Freedom (VFF) emphasizes that this is not total freedom. The fight for complete justice and his safe return home to Scotland continues.

A Long-Awaited Release Gained Through Legal Battle

Jagtar’s release on bail follows a period of frustration and administrative delays. Although granted bail by the Delhi High Court, prison authorities initially refused to release him. His family and legal representation were forced to file a habeas corpus petition, prompting a judge to warn prison officials they would be held in contempt of court if they failed to execute the order. On the morning of October 1, 2026, Jagtar finally stepped outside the prison walls.

After nearly a decade of emotional turmoil, broken promises, and false starts, Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, held back his hope until the very last second. It was only when his brother Jagtar finally walked out of Tihar Jail that the reality set in. Though Gurpreet expressed immense comfort in knowing his brother would not spend another night behind bars, his relief is tempered by reality. He stressed that the struggle for total liberation goes on, as Jagtar remains entangled in a politically motivated judicial process designed to silence human rights defenders under the ongoing threat of the death penalty.

The Reality: Restrictive Bail and Oncoming Capital Charges

Voices For Freedom reiterates that Jagtar remains in significant peril under severe bail restrictions:

  • Confinement to India: His passport has been surrendered, preventing him from returning to his wife and family in the United Kingdom.
  • Threat of the Death Penalty: Jagtar still faces federal charges under India’s draconian counter-terrorism laws (UAPA), several of which carry potential capital punishment.
  • Protracted Trials: Despite a major trial court acquittal last year on terror-funding charges due to a lack of evidence, Indian authorities continue to drag out parallel cases that could span years or decades.

The UK Government Must Step Up

Jagtar’s arbitrary detention, verified by international human rights bodies and UN experts, has highlighted a severe failure in consular assistance and international diplomacy over the last decade.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney welcomed Jagtar’s release while reaffirming the Scottish Government’s longstanding position against his prolonged detention. Meanwhile, international advocacy groups, including Reprieve and Voices For Freedom, are calling directly on the UK Foreign Secretary to take swift, decisive action.

Voices For Freedom demands that the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) must use every diplomatic lever available to negotiate Jagtar’s immediate, safe repatriation to Scotland. Bail within India is only an intermediate step—true justice will only be served when Jagtar is reunited with his family on British soil, free from baseless capital charges.