‘Markaz ignored govt orders to hold March event’

NEW DELHI : The Markaz management which organised the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in New Delhi in mid-March deliberately disobeyed the directions given by government authorities despite being appraised of the situation arising out of spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday.

The Centre in its affidavit filed through under secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ram Vilas Premi said that the Markaz management was contacted by the Delhi Police on March 21 and informed about the risk of spread of Covid-19.

They were also asked to send the foreigners back to their respective countries and Indians to their native states.

“However, no one paid any heed to the directions of Delhi Police and to the contrary an audio recording purportedly by Maulana Mohd Saad, head of the Tablighi Jamaat, was found to be in circulation on social media in which the speaker was heard asking his followers to defy the lockdown and to attend the gathering of Markaz”, the affidavit said.

One Supriya Pandita had moved SC in April seeking CBI probe into the alleged lapses by the Delhi government and police which led to the congregation.