15 more charge-sheets filed Against 294 foreigners in Markaz case
NEW DELHI: A day after Delhi police crime branch filed 20 charge-sheets against the foreigners attending Nizamuddin Markaz congregation, 15 more were filed on Wednesday taking the total to 35 charge-sheets filed in the case.
On Wednesday, 15 chargesheets against 294 foreign nationals from 14 countries attending Markaz at Nizamuddin were filed in the national Capital.
On Tuesday, police had filed 20 charge-sheets against 82 foreigners from 20 countries in the case, which means a total of 376 foreigners have been booked by crime branch till date.
Police have filed chargesheets against foreigners belonging to 14 different countries, including Malaysia, Thailand,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and several African nations and Metropolitan Magistrate Saema Jamil has put up the matter for further hearing on June 17.
According to the fresh charge-sheets, the foreign nationals have been booked for violating visa rules, violating government guidelines issued in the wake of COVID19 pandemic and regulations regarding Epidemic diseases Act, Disaster Management Act and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure.
They have also been for the offences under Sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of the Indian Penal Code.
The foreign nationals have not been arrested yet.
“As many as 1,640 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members from 47 countries were in India at the time of Nizamuddin Markaz gathering, of whom only 64 tested positive for COVID-19 and two more died due to the virus, prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-hind said earlier.
According to police, these foreign nationals had entered India on tourist visa and had participated in the gathering at Markaz illegally.
Police also said that more than 900 foreign nationals who are accused in the case belong to 34 different countries and charge-sheets are being prepared country-wise.