The UK government faces mounting criticism over its handling of the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen from Scotland who has been imprisoned in India for nearly seven years without trial.
Former Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has launched a scathing attack on the Foreign Office, accusing ministers of "walking away" from the 37-year-old from Dumbarton, despite repeated promises to secure his release.
Seven Years of Captivity Without Trial
Mr Johal, known as Jaggi to friends and family, was arrested during his wedding trip to India in October 2017. He faces allegations of conspiracy to commit murder and belonging to a terrorist organisation - charges he vehemently denies.
Throughout his detention, Mr Johal and his family have maintained that he was tortured after his arrest, including through electric shocks, and that his case is politically motivated.
Political Pressure Mounts
In a strongly worded intervention, Mr Alexander told The Independent: "There is a growing and real concern that the Foreign Office has effectively walked away from Jaggi's case."
The former Labour minister, who has consistently raised the case in Parliament, highlighted that despite 13 separate rulings by Indian courts acknowledging procedural delays, no progress has been made toward trial or release.
"When the former prime minister Boris Johnson and then foreign secretary Liz Truss both raised his case and promised his family he would be home by Christmas, that now looks like empty words rather than a genuine commitment from the British government," Mr Alexander stated.
Family's Growing Despair
The Johal family's frustration has reached breaking point as they witness what they describe as diminishing government engagement. They report that communication with the Foreign Office has become increasingly sparse, with their concerns seemingly ignored.
Mr Alexander emphasised the human cost of this diplomatic failure: "The reality is there's a young Scottish man facing the most serious of allegations, Allegations he's consistently denied, and he's now been in prison for nearly seven years without even having the allegations against him being tested in a trial."
A Test of UK's Human Rights Commitment
This case represents a significant test of the UK government's willingness to protect its citizens abroad and uphold human rights standards in international relations. With each passing month without resolution, questions grow about the effectiveness of British diplomatic intervention in cases involving allied nations.
The Foreign Office maintains it continues to provide consular assistance, but critics argue that without sustained high-level political pressure, Mr Johal's ordeal may continue indefinitely.
