Delhi High Court Scraps Tablighi Jamaat Covid Case Against 70

The Delhi High Court has dismissed charges against 70 Indians linked to the Tablighi Jamaat, who were accused of exacerbating the COVID-19 crisis in India. This decision quashes 16 FIRs and related proceedings. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna announced this in open court, though the detailed verdict is yet to be released. The accused faced charges under various IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy, for allegedly sheltering foreign nationals in mosques during late March 2020.

Tablighi Jamaat and COVID-19 Allegations

In early April 2020, as COVID-19 spread across India, the Tablighi Jamaat, an international Muslim missionary group, was blamed for worsening the health crisis. Leaders accused them of violating emergency rules by holding a congregation at their Delhi centre. Consequently, over 950 foreign nationals were blacklisted by the government for allegedly breaching these regulations.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police initially filed an FIR under Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. They also invoked IPC sections 188, 269, 270, 120-B, and 271 along with provisions from the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Seven Indians were named in this FIR. Subsequently, they filed numerous chargesheets involving both Indian and foreign nationals.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

A total of 48 chargesheets and 11 supplementary ones were submitted by the Crime Branch. These included charges under Section 14(b) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 against 955 foreign nationals. Of these individuals, 911 opted for plea bargains before a magistrate court. Additional FIRs were registered across Delhi for similar offences involving both Indian and foreign nationals.

At Chandni Mahal Police Station alone, FIRs were lodged against both Indian and foreign individuals. The magistrate court acknowledged these chargesheets against Indian nationals specifically at this station. However, most chargesheets did not name foreign nationals as accused due to principles of double jeopardy or refusal by magistrates to take cognisance.

The accusations centred around allegations that Tablighi Jamaat members housed foreign nationals in various mosques during March's last week in 2020. This period coincided with India's initial lockdown phase aimed at curbing COVID-19's spread.

The High Court's decision marks a significant development in this case which has been ongoing for over five years now since its inception amidst pandemic-related tensions within India's socio-political landscape.