Here’s The Full Content Of The FIR Filed Against Maulana Saad And Nizamuddin Markaz Management By Delhi Crime Branch

On 31 March, the Delhi crime branch filed a first information report (FIR) against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Mohammad Saad and six others from the management of the organisation’s Delhi headquarters at Banglewali masjid near the famous Nizamuddin Dargah.

The FIR (number 0063/2020) was filed on 31 March on the complaint of inspector Mukesh Walia. The other accused are namely Mohammad Ashraf, Mufti Shehzad, Dr Jishan, Mursaleen (Saif), Mohammad Salman and Yunus.

They have been booked under section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act 1897; sections 188, 269, 270, 271 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC); and sections 51 and 58 of the Disaster Management Act.

The statement in the FIR says that on 12 March, the government of NCT (National Capital Territory) issued detailed regulations regarding Covid-19 under the Epidemic Diseases Act, violation of which was to be treated as an offence under section 188 of the IPC. Then, on 16 March, the government directed that all gatherings – socio, cultural, political, religious, academic, sports, seminar or conferences (except marriages) - were to be restricted to a maximum of 50 people till 31 March.

Then on 21 March, the Delhi police themselves contacted the authorities of the Delhi Markaz at Tablighi Jamaat headquarters. The police told Mufti Shehzad about the spread of the highly contagious virus and directed him to send all foreign devotees back to their countries and the domestic devotees to their respective native place in India.

However, no one paid any heed to the police’s directions, says the statement.

The statement further says that on 21 March, an audio was found to be in circulation where the voice – purportedly of Maulana Saad – was heard asking followers to defy the lockdown and social distancing, and to attend the religious gathering.

After the nationwide lockdown was announced, the hazards of Covid-19 were communicated verbally to Maulana Saad several times, including during a meeting held in the police station on 24 March. The meeting was attended by Mohammad Ashraf, Mufti Shehzad, Dr Jishan, Mursaleen, Mohammad Salman and Yunus. However, none of the above informed any health department or other government agency about the huge gathering inside the Markaz, the statement says.

They deliberately, wilfully, negligently and malignantly disobeyed the lawful directions by the government, the statement says.

It further says that written notices were issued in the name of Maulana Saad and others at the Markaz but were ignored.

The premise was inspected by sub-divisional magistrate of the area every day from 26 to 30 March and around 1,300 devotees were found to be residing in the premise without maintaining any social distancing our using facial masks or sanitizers.

Further action in this matter would be taken by crime branch, the statement says.

It’s pertinent to mention here that while the FIR has been made public only now, Maulana Saad has been absconding since it was lodged.