The families of two British citizens, imprisoned without trial in India for a combined total of 15 years, are pleading with the UK government to finally 'wake up' and secure their release. Their prolonged detention has sparked fears they are being used as pawns in a wider diplomatic dispute over alleged Indian economic fugitives living in Britain.
A Decade of Despair in Overcrowded Prisons
A profound sense of hopelessness has enveloped the relatives of Christian Michel and Jagtar Singh Johal. Both men are trapped in India's notoriously slow and overburdened legal system, held in some of the country's most congested jails despite never being convicted of any crime.
Michel, a 64-year-old businessman, has spent seven years in Delhi's Tihar jail. He was extradited from Dubai in 2018 over allegations he acted as a middleman in a scandal-hit £455m helicopter deal with AgustaWestland, which India later cancelled. He denies all accusations.
"On 4 December, we marked seven years since my father was illegally detained in the country," his son, Alois Michel, told The Independent. "We want our father back to be declared finally innocent, for him to be fully unconditionally released."
Johal, a 38-year-old from Dumbarton near Glasgow known as Jaggi, has been behind bars for eight years. He was seized by police in Punjab in 2017 while on his honeymoon and accused of terror offences related to the Khalistani separatist movement, which he denies. His family alleges he was tortured and forced to sign a false confession.
Legal Limbo and Failed Bail
India's legal system is so backlogged that a law exists stipulating a suspect should be released once they have served half the maximum potential sentence. For Michel, that point was in 2021. The Supreme Court has even ordered bail for him, but the order is meaningless as he has no Indian address, family, or guarantor. The only person willing to vouch for him is former MP Jo Johnson.
In a recent hearing, a Delhi court agreed Michel "is entitled to be released". He passed the seven-year mark without conviction on 21 December 2025. Yet he remains incarcerated because India's Central Bureau of Investigation says it is preparing another case against him.
Johal's situation is similarly stalled. One of nine cases against him collapsed in March, but others crawl through the courts. His lawyer, Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, claims investigators are deliberately prolonging the pre-trial period because "they know that he is going to be acquitted." A UN panel recognised his detention as arbitrary in 2022.
Families' Fury at UK Inaction
Relatives accuse the UK government of empty talk and a failure to act decisively, even as it pursues closer trade ties with India. Johal's brother, Gurpreet, expressed devastation after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on 1 December, calling it "one of the most disappointing meetings yet".
"The prime minister made a big deal of this meeting, so to show up and hear the same empty talk is devastating," he stated.
Alois Michel was equally scathing, arguing the UK's pursuit of a major trade deal with India in July 2025, while his father remains imprisoned, is "a form of insult". "It's disgraceful to just forget someone like this," he added.
Scottish Labour MP Douglas McAllister has urged the government to move beyond "simply raising" the case and demonstrate "a greater sense of urgency" to bring his constituent home.
The Shadow of a Diplomatic Tug of War
Experts and charities warn the two Britons may be caught in a wider standoff over India's attempts to extradite high-profile economic fugitives from the UK. Dan Dolan of Reprieve, which supports the Johal family, warned that "failing to resolve this case would project terrible weakness – signalling to allies and enemies alike that they can arbitrarily detain British citizens as a point of leverage."
Among India's most wanted in Britain are former airline tycoon Vijay Mallya and diamond merchant Nirav Modi, both accused of multi-billion-rupee frauds. A source close to Michel fears he and Johal will not be released as long as India's extradition requests for these businessmen remain unresolved.
British courts have repeatedly expressed concern over conditions in Indian prisons, notably Tihar jail, which holds nearly double its capacity. In November 2024, the High Court in London blocked an extradition due to the "real risk" of violence in Tihar. Michel himself claims there have been two attempts on his life while detained there.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK government consistently raises both cases with India and provides consular support. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised them with Narendra Modi on 9 October, and the foreign secretary did likewise with his Indian counterpart in November. However, for the families enduring years of anguish, diplomatic words are no longer enough. They demand concrete action to end their nightmare.
