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Delhi court acquits 36 Tablighi Jamaat foreign nationals of disobeying COVID-19 guidelines

Up to 960 foreigners were chargesheeted by the Delhi Police, most took plea deals

prayagraj-mosque-police-search-tablighi-attendees-PTI Representational image: Police personnel during a search operation for devotees who had recently attended the religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, in Prayagraj, Wednesday, April 1, 2020 | PTI

36 foreign nationals who had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi in March have been acquitted of charges, ranging from disobedience of COVID-19 norms to indulging in missionary activities and violating visa conditions, by a Delhi court on Tuesday.

The Tablighi Jamaat event, later found to have been a super spreader event for COVID-19, took place in New Delhi in March, saw over 9,000 people in attendance and took place on despite orders barring the gathering of over 200 people in one place. in April, the Health Ministry said as many as 30 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in India at the time were linked to travellers from the congregation.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arun Kumar Garg acquitted the foreigners from 14 countries of all charges. The court had on August 24 framed charges against the foreigners under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 (disobeying regulation) of Epidemic Act, 1897.

The charges were also framed under section 51 (obstruction) Disaster Management Act, 2005.

However, they were discharged for the offences under section 14 (1) (b) (violation of visa norms) of Foreigners Act, sections 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of IPC.

Up to 960 foreign nationals had been blacklisted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for flouting visa norms.

With inputs from PTI

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