The Delhi High Court two-judge bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul & Justice Talwant Singh on Friday dismissed a plea seeking direction to transfer of Investigation from Crime Branch Delhi Police to National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case lodged against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad who is accused of organizing huge congregation by Tablighi Jamaat which included delegates from foreign countries where it resulted in the spread of COVID-19 virus.
The petitioner also sought from court to direct NIA to investigate the matter within the time limit and it to be monitored by the HC, alleging that Delhi Police had failed to arrest the leader even after passage of time. The petitioner has also sought liberty to withdraw the petition and move to SC where the bench granted him the same.
He also submitted that- “it’s a matter of record that the manner in which the people of Tablighi Jamaat have been spreading the deadly virus all over the country, not only by defying the national lockdown, but also by assaulting Corona warriors who have been treating not only other Corona patients/victims, but these very members of Tablighi Jamaat and with the result, the Central Government was required/compelled to enact penal law by way of issuing an Ordinance during national lockdown for protection of Corona warriors.”
The petitioner had contended that an FIR No. 63 of 2020 was registered at Crime Branch Police Station U/S 188, 269, 270, 271 & 120B of IPC, Section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act, Section 51 & 58 of Disaster Management Act against the Maulana Saad. However, no offence under UAPA was registered in the FIR.
