Delhi HC adjourns to June 18 hearing on plea to transfer Maulana Saad case to NIA

Delhi High Court on Thursday adjourned to June 18 hearing on a petition seeking transfer of the case filed against Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a time-bound manner.

A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh adjourned the matter as the counsel appearing for the petitioner didn't appear on time through video-conferencing.

Earlier, Delhi Police had opposed the petition stating that investigation is going in a fine manner and added that there is no need to transfer the case to another agency.

The petitioner Ghanshyam Upadhyay sought the invocation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and entrusting to the NIA, investigation in the case pertaining to allegedly organising a congregation at Tablighi Jamaat with delegates from foreign countries in violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The petition had also added that it has also been found, from media reports, that Maulana Saad and/or organisation has its connection with terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda.

The case is currently being probed by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, which had recently filed several charge-sheets in connection with the Jamaat matter involving hundreds of foreign nationals in a trial court.

The charge-sheets have been filed under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Indian Penal Code (IPC). The foreign nationals are being charge-sheeted for violation of visa norms.

Earlier, an FIR was registered against Tablighi Jamaat chief and others in connection with the congregation held at Markaz Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital, which had reportedly become an epicentre for the spread of coronavirus. 

-ANI

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