The UK Government raised the case of a detained Scottish activist during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander confirmed the issue was discussed during what he described as a "constructive bilateral meeting" in Mumbai on Thursday.
Jagtar Singh Johal is a Sikh activist from Dumbarton near Glasgow who was arrested in India in 2017, just weeks after his wedding there. He has been held for more than seven years on what supporters describe as politically-motivated charges.
Johal was acquitted earlier this year in a case where he was accused of financially supporting a terror group. However, he still faces federal charges from Indian authorities and remains in detention.
Government assurances
Alexander told BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that the government had been "determined" to raise the consular case. He emphasised that as a UK citizen, Johal's situation warranted official attention during the high-level diplomatic meeting.
The Foreign Secretary is expected to meet with Johal's family and others in the coming weeks. Alexander said families "have a right to hear directly in terms of what work is still under way" while acknowledging the matter ultimately rests with Indian authorities.
Family frustration
Johal's family expressed disappointment with the lack of concrete progress following the Prime Minister's discussions. They called for the UK Government to offer more than "empty talk" in securing his release.
Gurpreet Singh Johal, the detained activist's elder brother, highlighted the personal toll on the family. He noted that Johal's wife will spend her eighth wedding anniversary without her husband, describing the lack of detail and progress as "extremely disappointing" ahead of his planned meeting with the Foreign Secretary next month.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
