First minister calls for release of Scots Sikh imprisoned in India

The first minister met with Jagtar Singh Johal's brother Gurpreet

The first minister has said he is “gravely concerned” about the continued detention of a Scottish Sikh man in prison in India.

John Swinney called for the immediate release of Jagtar Singh Johal who has been held for almost seven years in connection with alleged terror offences.

The FM spoke extensively to Mr Johal’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal during a meeting at the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Johal said the UK government had a "responsibility to act" to bring his brother home.

Currently imprisoned in India, Jagtar Singh Johal faces charges of conspiracy to murder

Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested in India in November 2017, just weeks after his wedding there.

He is currently facing charges of conspiracy to murder, linked to political violence in India.

In May 2022, a UN panel of human rights experts found his detention was arbitrary - in other words lacked legal basis - and he should be released.

After today’s meeting, the first minister said: “I am gravely concerned at the continued detention of Jagtar Singh Johal and allegations of his mistreatment and torture in custody.

“Jagtar should be released immediately in line with the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.”

The cases of British nationals detained abroad are managed by the UK government.

Swinney said his Scottish government would continue lobbying the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and UK government to use every lever at their disposal to call for Mr Johal's release.

Gurpreet Singh Johal, a Labour councillor, said he was grateful to the first minister for making his brother's case a priority.

He said: "Jagtar has already lost almost seven years of his life to these false charges.

"He’s trapped in a legal process that is endless by design – we’ve seen similar cases last decades.

"When a British citizen is imprisoned for no reason overseas, their government has a responsibility to act.

"The previous government failed our family; I’m hopeful that this government will bring my brother back home to Dumbarton where he belongs.”

Harriet McCulloch, deputy director of human rights group Reprieve, said Mr Johal's supporters were "extremely grateful" for the first minister's support.

She said: "We hope the prime minister will listen to what the first minister has to say, respond with appropriate urgency, and do whatever it takes to bring Jagtar home to his family."

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously said he remained "absolutely committed to pushing for faster progress and to resolving this issue".

He added that the FCDO had raised its concerns about the case with the Minister of External Affairs in India "particularly about allegations of torture and the right to a fair trial" and would continue to do so.

The Indian authorities have repeatedly said due process is being followed in the case.