India releases UK Sikh blogger on bail after nearly nine-year detention

NEW DELHI: India released on bail Thursday (Oct 1) a British Sikh blogger detained since November 2017 over an alleged plot to kill right-wing Hindu leaders, an AFP journalist saw.

Jagtar Singh Johal (pic), from Dumbarton in Scotland, was acquitted of one terrorism-linked charge in March 2025. With his trial still ongoing, a court granted him bail this month on eight remaining charges, which include conspiracy to murder.

Johal, who was detained nearly nine years ago while in India for his wedding, walked out of Tihar jail in New Delhi on Thursday, according to an AFP journalist at the scene, and was greeted by his parents and grandmother with garlands.

His brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, said in a statement shared by British charity Reprieve, that "there have been so many setbacks and disappointments in the last nine years that I didn't dare to believe it until I saw Jagtar walking out of the prison gates with my own eyes".

"The fight continues, because he's still on trial and facing the death penalty for something he didn't do... We'll keep on fighting until he's home with us."

Several bail conditions have been attached to his release including a bond of 500,000 rupees (US$5,218) and the surrender of his passport.

He has also been barred from making any statements about the case to the press.

British lawmaker Douglas McAllister, representing Johal's council area in Scotland, had welcomed the news of his bail last week and said it was time to bring his constituent "back home".

Independent UN experts warned in April that Johal's prolonged detention amounted to "psychological torture", including allegations of electrocution and death threats. - AFP

Thank you for your report!

Games-India thrash Sri Lanka to set up cricket gold medal showdown with Pakistan

Apple Pay launches in India with Axis Bank partnership

India releases UK Sikh blogger on bail after nearly nine-year detention

新德里：据法新社记者报道，印度周四（10月1日）保释了一名自2017年11月以来因涉嫌策划谋杀右翼印度教领导人而被拘留的英国锡克教博主。

来自苏格兰邓巴顿的贾格塔尔·辛格·乔哈尔（图）于 2025 年 3 月被判无罪，免于一项与恐怖主义有关的指控。由于他的审判仍在进行中，本月法院准予他保释，免于其余八项指控，其中包括谋杀阴谋。

据法新社现场记者报道，约哈尔在印度举行婚礼时被拘留了近九年，周四他走出了新德里的提哈尔监狱，他的父母和祖母用花环迎接了他。

他的兄弟古尔普雷特·辛格·乔哈尔在英国慈善机构 Reprieve 分享的一份声明中表示：“在过去的九年里，我们经历了太多的挫折和失望，直到我亲眼看到贾格塔尔走出监狱大门，我才敢相信这是真的。”

“斗争仍在继续，因为他仍在接受审判，并因他没有做过的事情面临死刑……我们会继续斗争，直到他回家和我们在一起。”

他的保释条件包括缴纳 50 万卢比（5218 美元）的保释金和上交护照。

他还被禁止就此案向媒体发表任何声明。

代表乔哈尔在苏格兰议会选区的英国议员道格拉斯·麦卡利斯特上周对乔哈尔获得保释的消息表示欢迎，并表示是时候让他的选民“回家”了。

联合国独立专家在4月份警告称，乔哈尔的长期拘留构成“心理酷刑”，其中包括电击和死亡威胁等指控。——法新社

感谢您的报告！

印度队在奥运会上击败斯里兰卡队，将在板球决赛中与巴基斯坦队争夺金牌。

Apple Pay携手Axis银行在印度正式上线。

印度释放被拘留近九年的英国锡克教博主，准予保释。