New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— British national Jagtar Singh Johal, commonly known as Jaggi Johal, walked out of Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Thursday evening after spending nearly nine years in custody. Immediately following his release, Johal travelled alongside family members to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in the national capital to offer prayers and pay obeisance.
Speaking to reporters outside the historic shrine, Johal expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty after regaining his freedom following an extended period behind bars. When asked about the ongoing trials, he declined to comment on specific legal developments, emphasizing that the underlying cases remain active before the judiciary.
Johal’s legal counsel stated that although the court had issued orders facilitating his release on bail, implementation had faced procedural hurdles over the preceding days from prison authorities. The defence team moved a fresh application before the court on Thursday morning, leading to explicit judicial instructions directing jail officials to secure his formal release before the end of the day.
The Scottish-born activist stepped out through the prison gates at approximately 6:00 p.m., proceeding directly to the gurdwara with relatives who had arrived in the city to receive him. Addressing questions regarding his immediate plans, Johal confirmed that he intends to remain in New Delhi under the prescribed conditions of his release, adding that he will seek formal court permission prior to undertaking any travel to Punjab.
