British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal has been released from a Delhi prison. His release on Thursday, 1 October 2026, followed a warning from the Indian high court that the government risked being found in contempt of court.
The court's warning came after an 18 September order for Johal's release on bail. Johal had been incarcerated for nine years without a full trial.
Johal's lawyers had issued a writ of habeas corpus, alleging he was being detained against the court's express direction. Documents shown to the court indicated that messages from the prison seeking permission for his release had not been answered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Johal has faced eight terrorism charges in the federal court, though he was cleared of similar charges by a Punjab court. He claims any initial confessions were obtained under torture.