The brother of Dumbarton man Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been imprisoned in India since 2017, has written an impassioned letter to the chief of the UK’s intelligence agency.
In an open letter to MI6 chief Richard Moore, Gurpreet Singh Johal says “with your help, maybe one day soon, he’ll be walking back through our front door in Dumbarton, instead of fearing the death penalty in Delhi”.
The move comes as Jagtar, known as Jaggi, spends his sixth birthday behind bars today.
Gurpreet’s letter has so far received more than 8,000 signatures of support.
Jagtar had been in Punjab in northern India for his wedding in November 2017 when his family claim he was arrested and bundled into an unmarked car.
The 36-year-old, from Dumbarton, said he was detained and tortured and faces the death penalty over his activism for Sikh human rights.
He is accused of involvement in political killings in Punjab but UN legal experts found his detention was arbitrary, with ex-PM Boris Johnson previously admitting there was no legal basis for Jagtar’s imprisonment.
Last year, Jagtar’s lawyers lodged a complaint against the UK Government after human rights group Reprieve say they uncovered evidence suggesting MI5 and MI6 passed information about a British national to foreign authorities, who was then detained and tortured, which matches details in Jagtar’s case.
Having previously written to Mr Moore asking for a meeting, only to have the request refused - Gurpreet has gone public with his calls.
In his letter he says: “I am writing to you again to discuss if there are ways we can work together to bring Jagtar back. We can never get back the five years we’ve spent without Jagtar. But with your help, maybe one day soon, he’ll be walking back through our front door in Dumbarton, instead of fearing the death penalty in Delhi.
“I’m calling on you to act because I understand that MI6 may have played a role in Jagtar’s detention and torture by providing information about him to the Indian authorities, putting him on the radar of the Punjab Police.
“I am sure as the director of MI6 you take very seriously any possibility your organisation might be involved in the torture of a British citizen.
“We both have obligations here, you as the person charged with the British public’s safety, and me as Jagtar’s brother. He will only be safe when he is back home with his wife and our family in Dumbarton.
“I know the work you do is very sensitive, and I understand there are things you may not be able to discuss with me.
“I would be very grateful, though, if you could spare a little time to talk about how we clear up the mess that’s been created and bring my brother back.”
Reflecting on how the family would mark Jaggi’s birthday back in Dumbarton, Gurpreet said: “They were a big deal when Jagtar and I were kids.
“Our cousins would come over, our mum would cook a special meal and there was always a cake - a big family celebration.
“This is the sixth birthday Jagtar will be spending in prison in India. He was recently moved from one jail to another, so I don’t know if his cellmates even know it’s his birthday.
“We hardly ever get to speak to him - the one video call we had last year was special because he at least got to say hello to my kids.
“I miss him all the time but especially at this time.
“I try not to get angry about how the UK Government has let him down but the fact is, they could bring him home if they wanted to. They know there’s no legal basis for his imprisonment but refuse to act.
“When I met the Foreign Secretary last week it felt like a giant step backwards. My brother is British. He’s in prison for no reason for five years now. He could be sentenced to death. And they just don’t care.”
Dan Dolan, director of advocacy at human rights charity Reprieve, who are backing Jagtar added: “The UK intelligence services are meant to protect us.
“The evidence that they may have provided a tip-off to their Indian counterparts that led to a young British man being snatched off the street in front of his wife and then tortured with electricity is extremely concerning.
“For five years, the UK Government has known that Jagtar was tortured, that he signed his supposed confession to make the pain stop, and that the charges against him are manufactured and politically motivated.
“The Foreign Secretary is the latest Minister to pretend that Jagtar can have a fair trial in India, when prosecutors have presented no credible evidence against him despite hundreds of pre-trial hearings.
“The bottom line is that the only way to save Jagtar from his indefinite detention and a possible death sentence is for the UK Government to seek his release.”
A Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office spokeswoman said: “We cannot comment on these allegations against the UK Government as they are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
“We have consistently raised our concerns about Mr Johal’s case directly with the Government of India, including his allegations of torture and his right to a fair trial - we are committed to doing what we can to assist him.
“The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and we will continue to make this clear to the Government of India.”
