Govt denies need of CBI probe in Tablighi Jamaat incident, blames Jamaat head for gathering amid lockdown

Government has filed an affidavit in response to a PIL filed by lawyer Supriya Pandita and informed the Supreme Court that the centre and the Delhi police were not responsible for not able to disburse the crowd in Talibaghi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi and there is no CBI probe required into the matter.

New Delhi:The Centre on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the centre and the Delhi police were not responsible for not able to disburse the crowd in Talibaghi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi and there is no CBI probe required into the matter.

In this regard, the centre also informed that the investigation is being conducted on a day to day basis into the gathering which led to the spread of coronavirus.

Government has filed an affidavit in response to a PIL filed by Jammu based lawyer Supriya Pandita who questioned the role centre and Delhi police for allowing the gathering of thousands of people during a pandemic.

Around 3400 people had gathered at Markaz on March 13 and even after the lockdown was announced on March 24, 1000 people still remained in the premises defying social distancing norms. Pandita had also sought for CBI probe in this regard.

Detailing how the Delhi police had been able to control the migrants fleeing situation, the government said that their actions were proof that there was no lapse on their part. Further listing down its orders issued for the lockdown, like providing shelters, food, the order of not terminating anybody, providing regular wages to the workers, the government defended itself for not being successful in dispersing the crowd.

"It is stated that as early as on March 21, the authorities of Markaz at Talibaghi Jamat Headquarters were contacted by Delhi Police and one Mufti Shahzad was appraised of the situation arising out of the spread of COVID-19 on the same day and was asked to take immediate action for preventing the spread of the disease," the centre said in a statement.

"Shahzad was also directed to send the foreigners back to their respective countries and other Indian persons to their respective native places. However, no one paid any heed to the lawful directions of Delhi police and to the contrary," the statement said.

"Maulana Mohd Saad, the head of Talibaghi Jamaat, was found to be in circulation on social media platforms in which he was heard asking his followers to defy the lockdown and social distancing and to attend the religious gathering of the Markaz," claimed the government.

Further, it alleged that no one was seen wearing a mask or following social distancing norms, using sanitisers etc in the premises. It blamed Saad and other accused in deliberately, willfully, negligently and malignantly violating the directions.

The affidavit read," There was no negligence or delay in dealing with the said issue by the respondent authorities."

Further, it informed the court that the FIR has already been registered regarding the matter and the investigation is ongoing but still to convince the court they would also file a status report.

It also informed that more than 900 foreigners who participated in the event have joined the investigation and 960 foreigners who were here on tourist visas have been blacklisted.

The Home Ministry has also directed the DGPs of all concerned states/UTs and CP, Delhi Police to take necessary legal actions against the violators on priority.

It also alleged that they had obtained visas on a false pretext. Passports of 723 accused including 23 from Nepal have been taken into possession. The petitioner sought time to file a rejoinder and matter has been adjourned for two weeks.