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Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court after nine years in India
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal in seven cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Johal, a 39-year-old from Dumbarton, Scotland, has been in custody since his arrest in Punjab in 2017.
The cases involve allegations of targeted killings and attempted murders in the Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts during 2016-2017, which the NIA claims were part of a conspiracy by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) to disrupt law and order.
The court granted bail citing Johal's prolonged incarceration of nearly nine years and the slow progress of the trials, noting that many witnesses have yet to be examined. The ruling follows a previous acquittal in a separate case regarding the financial support of the KLF.
Bail is subject to stringent conditions, including the surrender of his passport, restrictions on social media use, and prohibitions on contacting witnesses or the complainants. Johal has consistently denied the charges and has alleged that he was subjected to torture during his detention, a claim previously noted by a UN panel as arbitrary detention.
Entities
Delhi High Court · Delhi Police · Jagtar Singh Johal · Khalistan Liberation Force · National Investigation Agency · Patiala House Court · Sanjay Azad · Swatantra Bhardwaj · Tihar Jail · United Kingdom · United Nations
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Johal has maintained his innocence and alleged that his detention was politically motivated and involved torture. www.indiavision.com · www.desiblitz.com · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court granted bail because Johal has been in custody for over eight years and the trial is unlikely to conclude soon. lawchakra.in · newsable.asianetnews.com · www.upday.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bail conditions include surrendering his passport, restrictions on social media, and a prohibition on contacting witnesses. newsable.asianetnews.com · www.upday.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged the cases were part of a conspiracy by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) to disturb law and order in Punjab. desitalkchicago.com · www.livelaw.in
- [● 3 SOURCES] Johal has been in custody since his arrest in Punjab in 2017. desitalkchicago.com · www.indiavision.com · www.upday.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A UN panel recognized Johal's imprisonment as arbitrary detention in 2022. www.desiblitz.com · www.upday.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Johal was acquitted in a separate case involving allegations of financially supporting the KLF. www.desiblitz.com · www.upday.com · news.stv.tv
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Delhi High Court granted bail to British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal in seven cases involving alleged targeted killings and attempted murders in Punjab. desitalkchicago.com · lawchakra.in · www.livelaw.in · newsable.asianetnews.com · www.upday.com