THE family of a Scottish man who's been awaiting trial in India for almost three and a half years finally has cause to celebrate after a judge ruled his wife should stay in Scotland.
Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, says he was tortured into making a false confession after his arrest in November 2017 over alleged involvement in an assassination plot.
Those claims were not assessed by medical experts and he has not spoken with his family since last summer.
Nicknamed Jaggi, he was bundled into an unmarked vehicle days after his wedding to Gurpreet Kaur and remains in jail, pending trial, despite concerns raised by organisations including Reprieve and the UN.
In a handwritten letter alleging torture, Jaggi said authorities also threatened to arrest Kaur, who travelled to the UK for talks with then-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in 2019 and applied to stay with her in-laws in West Dunbartonshire, where the couple still hope to live together.
But the UK Government, which called her case "unique", said there was no reason for her to stay, triggering a legal battle.
READ MORE: Westminster force visa battle on Jagtar Singh Johal's wife
When an immigration tribunal found in her favour later that year, it refused to accept the ruling and launched an appeal.
Now a higher panel has again said Kaur should get to live with her Scottish family.
She told the Sunday National she was relieved but feels she has been "singled out" by the Home Office: "Twice the judges have found in my favour, however I would not be surprised if the Home Office should try to appeal this decision further.
"I had high hopes for the UK Government to bring my husband home when I was invited to meet Jeremy Hunt but since then there have been no developments and it appears the meeting was just a token gesture.
"I urge the Prime Minister to end our nightmare and bring my husband back where he belongs."
Earlier this week Reprieve urged the PM to seek Jaggi's release in his online talks with Indian premier Narendra Modi.
READ MORE: Ask Indian PM to free Jaggi now, justice campaign tells Boris Johnson
The UK Government says it is supporting the family and has raised the case several times.
The Home Office says visa applications are treated on their individual merits.
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