John B. granted bail after nine years in Indian detention on terror charges

A British man who has been detained in India for nearly nine years without conviction has been granted bail but must remain in the country facing trial over alleged terror offences. The defendant, identified as John B., was arrested in 2014 in Delhi on charges that he had ties to extremist groups and that he was involved in planning violent attacks. He was held in a high‑security facility for almost a decade, with no formal trial or sentencing, while Indian authorities maintained that the evidence against him was still under investigation.

India’s approach to terrorism cases has long involved long pre‑trial detentions, especially for foreigners. The law allows authorities to hold suspects for up to 90 days without charge, and the government can extend this period if the case is deemed sensitive. In John B.’s case, the government cited national security concerns, but critics argue that the extended detention violated his right to a speedy trial. The British government has repeatedly called for his release, arguing that the evidence is weak and that his continued detention is a violation of international human rights norms.

The Delhi High Court, after reviewing the evidence, decided to grant bail on 12 September 2023. The court set strict conditions: John B. must stay in India, cannot leave the country, and must report regularly to the police. He was also ordered to surrender his passport and to remain in a monitored residence until the trial. The court noted that the bail would not impede the investigation and that the defendant had no prior criminal record. This is one of the few instances where a foreign national has been granted bail in a terrorism case in India, signalling a possible shift in the judiciary’s stance on pre‑trial detentions.

The next step is a trial scheduled