Jaggi Johal Gets Bail in Seven More Cases, Release Could Be Near

Jaggi Johal Gets Bail in Seven More Cases, Release Could Be Near

New Delhi: British national Jagtar Singh Johal, widely known as Jaggi Johal, has received a significant legal relief after the Delhi High Court granted him bail in seven cases being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The order, passed on September 18, 2026, clears the way for his release after nearly nine years in custody, subject to completion of the required legal formalities and compliance with the court’s conditions.

Johal was arrested in Punjab in November 2017 after travelling to India for his wedding. He subsequently became an accused in several cases connected by investigators to alleged targeted killings and a wider conspiracy attributed to the banned Khalistan Liberation Force. The cases against him include allegations under anti-terror legislation, the Arms Act and provisions relating to murder. Johal has denied the allegations against him.

The latest bail order concerns seven NIA cases registered between 2017 and 2019 in different parts of Punjab. According to the court proceedings, these cases had remained pending for several years, with Johal continuing to remain in custody while the trials progressed slowly.

A major issue considered by the Delhi High Court was the length of Johal’s incarceration and the pace at which evidence was being presented. The court noted that only 40 of 123 witnesses had been examined in the proceedings. The bench also observed that the trial had not progressed sufficiently despite earlier directions from the Supreme Court aimed at speeding up the process.

The court also considered Johal’s acquittal in another case in March 2025. In that matter, a Punjab court had acquitted him and seven others, and the prosecution did not challenge that decision. The Delhi High Court considered the earlier acquittal relevant while examining the present bail applications, particularly because of similarities in the allegations concerning Johal’s alleged role.

The prosecution opposed the bail pleas and raised concerns relating to allegations that some witnesses had been threatened. Those concerns were considered by the court, but the bench also weighed them against Johal’s prolonged pre-trial detention and the continuing delays in the cases.

The bail order comes with specific conditions. Johal has been directed to surrender his passport and provide an undertaking regarding his use of social media and messaging platforms. The order also restricts him from joining WhatsApp groups or other social-media platforms where material described by the court as anti-national is uploaded, circulated or propagated.

Johal’s legal history has attracted attention in both India and the United Kingdom. His arrest and prolonged detention have been raised by his family, supporters and international organisations, while Indian investigating agencies have maintained allegations concerning his alleged involvement in serious criminal and security-related offences. These allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings and should not be treated as established guilt merely because charges were filed.

The latest decision does not amount to an acquittal in the seven cases. Bail means that Johal can remain outside custody while the underlying proceedings continue, subject to the conditions imposed by the court. The prosecution will still have the opportunity to pursue the cases through the judicial process.

According to his lawyer, the seven cases were the matters that had continued to keep Johal in custody after he secured bail in other cases. With bail now granted in all seven, his legal team expects the necessary release process to move forward. However, he will remain subject to the court’s restrictions and cannot leave India without the required judicial permission.

The Delhi High Court’s decision marks a major development in a case that has continued for years. While the bail order changes Johal’s custody status, the remaining legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the allegations against him.