NIA Reports Protected Witness Status in Jagtar Singh Johal Case to Delhi Court
In a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving British national Jagtar Singh Johal, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed a special court in Delhi that, of the two protected witnesses linked to Johal, one has passed away and the other is residing abroad. This disclosure was made on Thursday, as confirmed by Johal's lawyer, Jaspal Singh Manjhpur.
Background on Jagtar Singh Johal's Legal Battles
Jagtar Singh Johal, also known as Jaggi Johal, is a British citizen from Dumbarton, Scotland, who was arrested by Punjab police on November 4, 2017, in Jalandhar, shortly after returning to India for his wedding on October 18. He has been in custody since then, facing allegations of arranging funds for terrorist activities. Johal is accused in eight NIA-probed cases related to terror allegations and targeted killings in Punjab, including the murders of prominent figures such as RSS leaders Jagdish Gagneja and Ravinder Gosain, pastor Sultan Masih, Hindu Takht leader Amit Sharma, Shiv Sena leader Durga Prasad, and Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal and Ramesh in Khanna.
Court Proceedings and Witness Examination
Manjhpur highlighted that the Supreme Court had issued a direction on December 11, 2025, urging the Special NIA Court to expedite the targeted killing trials, preferably on a day-to-day basis, with a specific focus on examining protected witnesses. Between December 11, 2025, and February 19, 2026, there were 12 hearings during which six protected witnesses were examined. However, Manjhpur informed the court on February 19 that no protected witness connected to Johal had been examined yet.
In response, the court directed the NIA to produce and examine the two protected witnesses said to pertain to Johal in upcoming hearings. The NIA officer subsequently informed the judge that one of those witnesses had died and the other was living abroad. The court then ordered the agency to file a report detailing when the overseas witness would come to India and how their testimony would be recorded.
Parallels with Previous Case and Legal Provisions
Manjhpur drew a parallel to the 2016 Baghapurana case investigated by Punjab police, where Johal was acquitted by a Moga court in March last year. In that case, there were two private witnesses: one had a death report, and the other testified but was found unreliable by the court, leading to Johal's acquittal. Manjhpur suspects that the NIA's protected witnesses may be the same individuals from the 2016 case.
He expressed hope that Johal will also be acquitted in the NIA cases, citing similarities in witness issues. Under Section 17 of the NIA Act, 2008, witness protection measures are provided in Special Court cases, including in-camera proceedings, concealment of identities, and restrictions on publication of records when a witness's life is deemed at risk.
Implications and Future Steps
The NIA's report on the status of protected witnesses raises questions about the viability of the evidence in Johal's cases. With one witness deceased and another abroad, the agency must now navigate logistical challenges to secure testimony. Manjhpur's concerns underscore the complexities in prosecuting high-profile terror cases, where witness availability and reliability are critical.
As the legal process continues, all eyes will be on the NIA's next steps and how the court addresses these witness-related hurdles in the pursuit of justice.
