The Singh Johal family, who have been fighting to prove the innocence of 33 year old Jagtar from Dumbarton since his arrest in India in November 2017, have been successful in stopping the UK government’s attempts to deport his wife from Scotland.
Local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has been assisting the family of Jagtar Singh Johal, known as Jaggi, whose wife faced being deported to India by the UK Home Office despite concerns for her welfare.
The successful appeal to the immigration tribunal by Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, comes as the family prepare to mark the 3rd anniversary next week of Jaggi’s arrest and alleged torture by the Indian authorities on 4th November.
The family’s MP Docherty-Hughes has hit out at the UK government for putting the family through the turmoil of an immigration battle at a time when they’re still fighting to prove Jagtar’s innocence and bring him home to Scotland.
Despite being held in detention for the past 3 years, and subject to more than 200 pre-trial hearings, Jagtar Singh Johal is yet to be formally charged with any crime. The Indian authorities continue to refuse an independent investigation into allegations of torture and mistreatment against Jaggi during his arrest and incarceration.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“It’s a great credit to my constituents the Singh Johal family that they continue to fight tirelessly to prove the innocence of their son and brother Jaggi amidst such adversity.
“Winning this appeal against the Home Office has come as a welcome relief for the family at a difficult time as they face the 3rd anniversary since Jagtar was first arrested and allegedly tortured.
“However I find it appalling that rather than showing the Singh Johals compassion and support, the UK Home Office should choose to put them through the threat of a deportation hearing at this time.
“My constituents feel badly let down by the UK government, especially the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab who appears uninterested in Jaggi’s plight and turns a blind eye to the family’s campaign for justice.
“Despite countless court hearings, my constituent – a British Citizen – remains incarcerated abroad without conviction nor any evidence presented against him.
“I will continue doing all I can as the family’s MP to press this UK government to safeguard Jagtar’s human rights and speak up for fairness, justice and due process.”
