UK government ministers insist they are “pushing for a resolution” over the detainment of Dumbarton man Jagtar Singh Johal in an Indian prison and have called for an investigation into allegations of torture.
Sikh activist Mr Johal faces terror charges in connection with political violence in the north of India after he was arrested while visiting Punjab for his wedding back in 2017.
He is accused of being involved in a political murder plot and faces the death sentence. There have now been almost 400 hearings in the nine cases against Jagtar.
However, almost eight years on, Mr Johal remains imprisoned amid calls for his release.
The former Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School pupil has accused the Indian authorities of using torture methods, including electric shocks.
Mr Johal’s case was today raised in the House of Commons by West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister who has been campaigning for Mr Johal’s release.
Speaking at Westminster on Tuesday, Mr McAllister said: “My constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, remains in arbitrary detention in India for over seven years now.
“The secretary of state and his entire ministerial team have been extremely generous with their time and assistance to help resolve the situation. Can I seek the minister’s assurance that these efforts are ongoing?”
Responding, Foreign Office minister, Catherine West MP said: “Ministers have engaged frankly with counterparts in India on Mr Johal’s case, pushing for faster progress towards a resolution – including the call for an investigation into allegations of torture by the authorities.”
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Last November, it was revealed that a total of 16 MPs – including Mr McAllister – wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressing their “serious concern” about his detainment on the seventh anniversary of his arrest.
That same month, Mr Johal’s brother, Gurpreet, met with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Westminster to discuss the ongoing case.
Human rights charity Reprieve, which have been backing Mr Johal, said that prosecutors have had seven years and have produced no credible evidence – no physical evidence, no email trail, no CCTV footage, no record of a bank transfer, no notes or recordings of telephone calls.
In addition claiming he has been subject to electric shocks as a form of torture, Mr Johal also claimed police had brought petrol into his cell and threatened to burn him alive.
He also claims he signed his name on a blank piece of paper that was then filled in by police and prosecutors, which he says is the basis of all the charges against him.
The former Tory government claimed to have “raised Jagtar’s case” more than 100 times, whilst leader of the opposition, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote both to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, calling on them to officially seek Jagtar’s release.