New Delhi, Apr 9: The Delhi Police has traced Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, who has been on the run after an FIR was registered against him for organising a religious gathering last month despite restrictions to combat the coronavirus, sources said on Wednesday.
The cleric has been traced to Zakir Nagar in southeast Delhi, sources said.
His lawyer Tauseef Khan, however, said Saad is under self-quarantine and will join investigation after his quarantine period is over.
On March 31, Delhi Police's Crime Branch lodged an FIR against seven people, including the cleric, on a complaint by Station House Officer Nizamuddin for holding the congregation here allegedly in violation of the orders against large gathering and not maintaining social distancing to contain the spread of coronavirus.
A day later, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch wrote to Saad and others, seeking the details under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A second notice was also issued to him this week.
"Saad is currently under self-quarantine and will join investigation once the period of 14 days gets over," his advocate, Tauseef Khan, told PTI.
Saad's quarantine is expected to end next week.
His lawyer said a reply to the second notice will be given soon.
In an audio message last week, Saad said he was exercising self-quarantine after several hundreds who visited the Tablighi Jamaat's Nizamudddin markaz tested positive for coronavirus.
Visited by thousands last month, the Nizamudddin centre also turned out to be a hotspot for spread of coronavirus not only in national capital and country.
According to the FIR, the Delhi Police contacted the centre on March 21 and reminded them of the government order that prohibited any political or religious gathering of more than 50 people.
However, no one paid any heed to the police's direction, it said. Moreover, an audio recording purportedly of Saad was found in circulation on WhatsApp on March 21, in which he was heard asking his followers to defy the lockdown and social distancing and to attend the religious gathering of the Markaz.
On March 24, the government ordered 21-day nationwide lockdown and restricted any social, political or religious gathering.
The same day a meeting was held at Hazarat Nizamuddin police station between SHO and officer bearers of the centre.
The meeting was attended by Saad, Mohammad Ashraf, Mohammad Salman, Yunus, Mursaleen Saifi, Jishan and Mufti Shehzad and they were informed about lockdown orders.
So far, several hundred cases of COVID-19 cases across the country have been found to be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held in Delhi last month.
More than 25,500 Tablighi members and their contacts have been quarantined in the country after the Centre and the state governments conducted a "mega operation" to identify them.
At least 9,000 people participated in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin. Later, many of the attendees travelled to various parts of the country.
Comments
aree bhai.... animals are not our parents.... Muslims dont worship animalsss... go and take all cows from your modiji's freinds who are exporting your mata to other countries..... they are in cow trafficking......
How about your uncles of Al Kabeer Beef exporter. Your for uncle is chipanjee so what we will convert as chipanji and stay in jungle.
Stop non sense and be like a human don't try to spoil HINDU religion.
Hope you and your Head quarter manage to understand above message.
I am sure that this bjp leader Ranjit has completely gone mad and it will be better for bjp to kick him out from the party. His baseless + senseless statement will lead to riot. Hence,. he shuld be arrested under terrorist / goonda act immediately. According to scientiest Darwin, human being are coming from apes / monkeys. Based on this, ancistors of this hate monger were apes / monkeys. I would like to know when this hate monger will go to jungle to stay with his ancistors. We will give nice party to him. Why this hate monger is not caring about cows which are let lose in the roads and dying due to hunger. Why dont he take care of them. He is only after the cows which muslims are taking care. As cows are his Matas, he should visit to other countries also to take care of them. Why is not bothered about hundreds of cows being slaughtered for beef export by sangh exporters in Gujrat. Why he has double standard. I doubt he is one of the beef exporters and making crores and low being expressed for cow is a jumla like his Master. Has he dare enough to agitate in front of beef exporting houses in Gujrat. He will be kicked out if he does so. Shame on you guy. Be a human being first. Live and let live others. There is limit for everything . Dont cross the limit.
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