London: A division bench of the Delhi High Court has earlier today granted bail to British national Jagtar Singh Johal in the remaining cases registered against him under India’s controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Jagtar Singh Johal was abducted from the streets of Punjab nearly nine years ago, on 4 November 2017, by plainclothes police officers while out shopping with his new wife just weeks after their wedding. Despite the passage of nearly a decade, Indian authorities have failed to produce a single shred of credible evidence against him in court.

Immediately following his arrest, Jagtar Singh was subjected to severe “third-degree” torture and forced to sign a false confessional statement. Exactly one month after his abduction, amid mounting global publicity and scrutiny, the Indian authorities broadcast a staged confession video on Indian television.

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The Indian courts have firmly rejected both the forced confessional statement and the televised video, which served as the sole basis for his arbitrary detention. United Nations experts have previously stated that his prolonged imprisonment amounts to a form of psychological torture.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) Strategy Board said: “Jagtar being granted bail earlier today moves us one step closer to getting him home and reunited with his family in Scotland after nearly nine years of false imprisonment and torture in an Indian jail.

“We want to thank Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjpur of Panjaab Lawyers and Jagtar Singh Johal’s entire legal team for working tirelessly to secure his release despite immense delays and obstacles.”

The detailed written order from the Delhi High Court specifying the exact bail conditions is currently awaited.  The precise terms and practical arrangements surrounding his physical release from prison are expected to be clarified shortly.

Under UAPA cases, the standard bail conditions for foreign nationals in India are notoriously restrictive.  These are almost certain to include residing at a fixed address within the court’s jurisdiction and checking in periodically with local law enforcement or the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, the Chief Executive for political engagement at the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “We are in communications with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials to ensure they can provide immediate, on-the-ground support to facilitate Jagtar Singh’s transition out of prison and to implement a safe repatriation plan.

“The high-profile, international nature of Jagtar’s case requires the UK Government to diplomatically intervene and leverage the information it holds to get him home without further delay.

“It should now be entirely possible for UK diplomats to push for the remaining charges against Jagtar to be dropped.  At a bare minimum they must negotiate an agreement or seek an expedited court waiver allowing Jagtar to return to the UK while his trial proceeds.”

Once Jagtar is fully acquitted of all charges, his legal team should consider formal legal action against the Indian state for prolonged wrongful detention and malicious prosecution.