As global uncertainty rises, further exacerbated by the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the Indian government, led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, has faced accusations of targeting Sikh activists abroad, including in the USA, Canada, and the UK, through its agents. Punjab, due to its geo-strategic location, and Sikhs, due to their political history, have become increasingly relevant in the evolving situation in South Asia.

Meanwhile, an Indian court has concluded a high-profile trial in which UK citizen Jagtar Singh Jaggi Johal was facing serious charges, including those under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s anti-terror law. The trial concluded with a verdict announced on 4 March 2025 by the UAPA Special Court in Moga, with Additional Sessions Judge Harjit Singh presiding. Jagtar Singh Johal was acquitted of all charges, along with four co-accused, as the prosecution’s case collapsed during the trial, which lasted over seven years.

Jagtar Singh Johal still faces eight more cases, and his bail plea is pending before the Supreme Court of India in seven of them. In one case, he was granted bail by a High Court, which was later confirmed by the Supreme Court of India.

Jagtar Singh Johal’s case has drawn significant international attention, especially from the UK-based media, since his arrest on 4 November 2017. His family has consistently maintained that he was innocent and framed by Indian police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) due to his online activism, which involved compiling, collecting, and publishing data and narratives related to the 1984 Sikh Genocide and human rights issues in Punjab.

In this exclusive interview, journalist Mandeep Singh speaks with Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, Jagtar Singh Jaggi Johal’s defense lawyer, to discuss the details surrounding the 4 March 2025 verdict of the Moga Special UAPA Court.