'Unsatisfactory response': Delhi Police to issue second notice to Nizamuddin Markaz chief

Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi, the chief of the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz has told investigators that he cannot provide the details about himself or his organisation as the country is in lockdown. However, the Crime Branch is not satisfied with his response, and a second notice may be issued to him asking him for the detailed reply.

New Delhi: After Nizamuddin's Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Mohd. Saad Kandhalvi's 'unsatisfactory response' to the notice issued by Delhi Police Crime Branch, the investigative agency, now, may issue a second notice to him asking for a detailed reply, sources said on Monday.

"Delhi Police Crime Branch is unsatisfied with the response by Maulana Saad and he will be issued a second notice under section 91 of CrPC asking him for a detailed reply along with the documentary evidence," Delhi Police Crime Branch sources told ETV Bharat.

Notably, Maulana Saad on Saturday replied to a notice sent by the Delhi Police Crime Branch saying that he has in self-quarantine and therefore, he cannot join the probe since the Markaz is locked up and he has no access to the required details.

A team of Delhi Police Crime Branch visited Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in Nizamuddin for an investigation on Sunday but they didn't find any data relevant to the organisation's funding and its congregation.

The Intelligence Bureau officials believe that among 2,000 delegates, including foreigners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other countries, who attended the congregation, many are still not traceable and the Tablighi Jamaat's chief could share their exact locations.

In Lucknow, twelve people who attended the Nizamuddin congregation were found by the Military Intelligence in the Patthar Mosque of Sadar Bazar near Lucknow cantonment on Sunday.

The Delhi Police had on Tuesday registered an FIR against Maulana Saad and other, under the Epidemic Disease Act and Indian Penal Code for holding a religious gathering and violating lockdown orders.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry said that India's COVID-19 cases would have doubled in 7 days. But, the Ministry noticed that the figures got doubled in just 4 days as several infected members of the Tablighi Jamaat dispersed across the country which led to the spread of virus multiple times.