Jagtar Singh Johal, a British human rights activist from Dumbarton, Scotland, has been acquitted of terrorism charges by a court in Punjab, India, after over seven years in detention. The court found no credible evidence linking Johal to the alleged crimes, leading to his acquittal.
Despite this acquittal, Johal remains in custody due to eight additional cases filed by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), all based on the same alleged confession. His legal team contends that he was coerced into signing a blank piece of paper under torture, including electric shocks and threats of being set alight.
The lack of physical evidence, such as email trails, CCTV footage, bank transfer records, or documented communications, has been highlighted by advocacy groups like Reprieve, emphasizing the absence of substantiation for the charges against Johal.
Johal’s family and supporters are urging the UK government to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure his release, especially in light of the recent acquittal. His brother, Gurpreet Singh
Johal, stated, “We’ve always said the allegations against Jagtar are baseless, and now the court in Punjab has agreed.”
UK officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, are expected to discuss Johal’s case with Indian counterparts, aiming to expedite his release and address concerns over his prolonged detention without credible evidence.
Johal was arrested in November 2017 while in Punjab for his wedding. Since then, he has faced multiple charges, with human rights organizations and UN panels criticizing his detention as arbitrary and calling for his immediate release.
The recent acquittal has renewed attention to Johal’s case, with advocates emphasizing the principles of justice and the need to prevent further violations of his rights.