Foreigners Who Attended Tablighi Jamaat Event Made 'Scapegoats' For Spread Of COVID: Bombay HC

MUMBAI || In a significant development, the Aurangabad bench of the Mumbai High Court has observed that the foreign nationals who attended a religious Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi's Nizamuddin in March were "virtually" persecuted and blamed for spreading coronavirus as part of a propaganda.

The bench made these observations of Friday while dismissing cases filed against 29 foreigners. The HC also said that these foreigners were made "scapegoat" by political governments.

Many people, both Indians and foreigners belonging to this sect had tested positive for the dreaded COVID and had triggered a storm in the country. Visa violation cases were registered against the foreign nationals who had attended the congregation.

"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," the court said in its order.

"A political 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," it added.

The 29 foreign nationals were booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act and Foreigner's Act for allegedly violating their tourist visa conditions by attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.