By Special Correspondent

Mumbai  : Coming down heavily on Maharashtra Police and administration  the Bombay High Court on Friday quashed the FIRs filed against a total of 29 foreign Tablighi nationals and  six Indians  and criticized print media and electronic media propaganda  against them.

The foreign Tablighi members  were booked under various provisions of IPC, Epidemic Diseases Act, Maharashtra Police Act, Disaster Management Act and Foreigner’s Act for allegedly violating their Tourist Visa conditions by attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi.

‘In a strongly worded worded judgment a Division Bench of Justice TV Nalawade and Justice MG Sewlikar of the Aurangabad bench observed that  the Tablighi Jamaat foreigners were made ‘Scapegoats’ and quashed the FIRs filed against’ reported LiveLaw.in.

Criticising the media’s portrayal of foreign nationals who attended Tablighi Jamaat, Justice Nalawade specified-

“There was big propaganda in print media and electronic media against the foreigners who had come to Markaz Delhi and an attempt was made to create a picture that these foreigners were responsible for spreading COVID-19 virus in India. There was virtually persecution against these foreigners.

” Government tries to find the scapegoat when there is pandemic or calamity and the circumstances show that there is probability that these foreigners were chosen to make them scapegoats. The aforesaid circumstances and the latest figures of infection in India show that such action against present petitioners should not have been taken. It is now high time for the concerned to repent about this action taken against the foreigners and to take some positive steps to repair the damage done by such action.” said the judgement.

According to to the petitioners, they came to India on a valid visa issued by the Government of India and they have come to experience Indian culture, tradition, hospitality and Indian food. It is their contention that on their arrival at the airport, they were screened and tested for Covid-19 virus and only when they were found negative for the virus, they were allowed to leave the airport.

Moreover, they had informed the District Superintendent of Police about their arrival in Ahmednagar district. Due to the lockdown imposed since March 23, vehicular movement was stopped, hotels and lodges were closed and consequently the Masjid had given shelter to them. They were not involved in illegal activity including the breach of order of the District Collector, petitioners argued.

In fact, they contended that even at Markaz, they had observed norms of physical distancing. It is their contention that while being granted a visa, they were not asked to inform local authorities about their visit to those places, but they had informed local officers. Also, under the conditions of visa, there was no prohibition to visit religious places like Masjids, petitioners argued.

On the other hand, the District Superintendent of Police, Ahmednagar, filed a reply contending that the petitioners were found visiting places for preaching Islam religion and so, crimes are registered against them. He also contended that five foreign nationals from three different cases were found infected by the virus. It is contended that after the quarantine period was over all the petitioners were shown to be formally arrested. (LiveLaw.in  inputs )

It should be noted that  members were stuck at its Nizamuddin headquarters since they could not go to their destinations due the country-wide lockdown suddenly  announced by the Prime Minister to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Ina statement it also said that   they had duly informed the government and concerned authorities about the situation at its Nizamuddin headoffice after the lockdown came into force and asked for assistance in evacuating its members. However, no action was taken by the authorities.