JAMAAT CHIEF’S TAPE UNDER LENS

The Delhi Police is investigating an audio clip of a speech purportedly delivered by Maulana Mohammad Saad Kandhalvi, the head of Nizamuddin Markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat. In the audio, he can reportedly be heard instructing followers to not abide by government/medical guidelines with regards to the coronavirus outbreak.

Maulana Saad, who has been accused of holding a public gathering in contravention of government guidelines, is reportedly not traceable. The audio clip is in possession of India Today TV in which Maulana Mohammad Saad can be heard saying, "If you think you will die if you assemble in a masjid, let me tell you, there is no better place to die.’’ Saad can be further heard saying: This is not the time when you leave your prayers or don’t meet people just because doctors are saying so. When Allah has given this disease, then no doctor or medicine can save us.’’

SUICIDE BID BY JAMAAT ATTENDEE: A man who had attended the religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin area attempted suicide on Wednesday.

He tried to jump out of the window of the isolation ward at Delhi's Rajeev Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, reports a media portal. He had attended the Tablighi Jamaat's gathering in Nizamuddin, which has become a hotbed of coronavirus infections. As coronavirus patients need ventilation, the windows in the room were not closed. The patient tried to jump out of the window at 12.30 pm on Wednesday morning.