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
No need to point thier members, they all are the wings fo desh drohi RSS. In Karnataka all will epxerinece their
communal and hate speeches only for vote bank. They might think by the name of cunning religion and caste polcy they will succeed to devide our Great country. In INDIA normal citizens will never accept RSS groups policy to accept their upper caste and lower caste Hindu policy and targeting other religion.
Rest of the Nations are living peacefully with all religion why can't we .
India is the only country in the World fight against dirty british invader with Non Voilance. For that we all to salute the great man Mahthma Gandhi. RSS criminals never supported or they parcitipated during nation freedom strugle with dirty britishers. Now they are looking to devide our Nation but never, hence we all have to stand together ; be unite to save our NATION form these evils. Then no time very shorlty their organization and their criminal institutions will be vanished from all corners of NDIA.
Jai Hind! Jai Karnataka !
These disgraceful caste based un secular Muslim appeasing Sid Ra Miya of Conning-ress, is equating Bajrang Dal & RSS with some of the parties (A--i Na---al) which it sponsors, RSS has proved for many years that it is a party doing many social services, this cheap fellows will be in power for barely another 4 months
CM has problem in a mental stablity ot he is drunk should we call for ban for Congress Muslim party who looks for their votes
Sid RA Miya, Conning-ress, & Parakasha Rai/Raj are already Hob Nobbing with PFI, SDPI, & many similar organizations directly & clandestinely
@Mangalurean. Very few sane, Hindus, have such guts. Others all are chameleons..and turn color whenever get a better chance.
I wish, he was not in Congress, which helped RSS grow into such a giant organization and now a school of teaching hatred to innocent common Hindus.
Salute. Many common Hindus feel the same way, unless they are in politics.
So the President, Vise-President and the Prime minister are terrorists? India is a terrorist country now then. This idiot will be shown his place in the next election.
BIG sallute to Siddaramaih!!
HE the CM of Karnataka has guts to speak the truth of hidden Agendas of against our nation as well Karnataka...!
in fact who killed the BOMBAY POLICE CHEIF of Mumbai, its RSS becouse very soon he wanted to open mouth of big shots who are enjoing the government protocol and security today..
Almost all leaders and prominents in India are THUGS but some also TERRORISTS.
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