New Delhi: Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad has been absconding for more than three months now after the Nizamuddin Markaz case first came to light. Saad has been on the run ever since police booked him for violating the coronavirus guidelines by organising a religious congregation as coronavirus wreaked havoc across the world.
The Delhi Police crime branch, had on March 31, lodged an FIR against seven people, including the cleric, on a complaint by the Station House Officer of Nizamuddin police station for holding the congregation. Later, the Indian Penal Code Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was added to the FIR. Police said that some foreigners who attended the event in the month of March have also been booked for violation of visa norms.
It was found that nearly 2,300 people were staying at the Markaz Nizamuddin on March 23 despite restrictions on all religious gatherings. Many of them tested positive for the virus later. As many as 9,000 people including foreigners had attended the event since March 1.
The court has recently granted bail to many foreign nationals in connection with the cases related to Tablighi Jamaat congregation in March this year. Delhi Police had charge-sheeted around 955 foreign nationals in the matter.
READ: Tablighi Jamaat case: Delhi court allows 121 foreign nationals to walk free on fine
The head of the Jamaat's Nizamuddin Markaz was in the centre of controversy since then. Earlier in April, Saad's lawyer had claimed that the Tablighi Jamaat chief had tested negative for COVID-19, and his report had been sent to the Crime Branch.
However, the crime branch had asked the cleric to get his COVID-19 test done from a government hospital and send over his report.
According to reports, Saad was spotted out of his Zakir Nagar residence in June. His picture was captured by a CCTV camera in the area, which established that the Tablighi chief was indeed in Delhi.
Though it has been 110 days since the FIR was lodged against him, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch is yet to question Saad.
READ: Tablighi Jamaat case: Total of 342 Jamaatis granted bail till now
