Delhi Police file chargesheet against 541 foreign Jamaat followers

The Delhi Police on Thursday filed 12 fresh chargesheets against 541 foreign nationals who had allegedly attended the controversial Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation at markaz in Nizamuddin. The chargesheets, filed before court of duty metropolitan magistrate Archana Beniwala, have been listed for consideration on June 25.

Of the 541 foreign nationals, 414 are from Indonesia, 85 from Kyrgyzstan and 42 from Malaysia.

According to the chargesheets, all the foreign nationals have been booked for violating visa rules, violating government guidelines issued in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic and regulations regarding Epidemic diseases Act, Disaster Management Act and prohibitory orders under section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure.

They have also been for the offences under sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Foreigners Act.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had filed 35 chargesheets against 374 foreign nationals in connection with the case. The Centre has already cancelled their visas, besides putting them in blacklist and confiscating their passports and other documents.

The police filed 20 chargesheets against 294 foreign nationals earlier this week. They belonged to countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and several African nations.

Out of the 82 foreigners chargesheeted earlier, four of the accused were from Afghanistan, seven each from Brazil and China, five from US, two from Australia, Kajahstan, Morocco, UK, one each from Ukraine, Egypt, Russia, Jordan, France, Tunisia, Belgium, eight from Algeria, 10 from Saudi Arabia, 14 from Fiji and six each from Sudan and Philippines.

The congregation held in March and attended by thousands of people had run into controversy after many of the attendees tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a huge spike in the number of cases in the country.

Last month, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had blacklisted 960 foreign Jamaat followers in the country for flouting visa norms. According to the ministry, these people were present in India on tourist visas, but involved in the activities of the missionary.

The MHA had also directed the DGPs of all states and Union territories and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to take necessary legal action against such violators, on priority, under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Delhi Police's Crime Branch had on March 31 lodged an FIR against seven persons, including Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad, on a complaint by Station House Officer of Nizamuddin police station for holding the congregation in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus. 

The Enforcement Directorate has also filed a money laundering case against Saad, trusts linked to the Jamaat and others.

Last month, the Union health ministry had said that nearly 30 per cent of the COVID-19 cases reported in India were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat's markaz event.

With inputs from PTI