The court dismisses all 16 cases against 70 people who were accused of sheltering foreigners during the Tablighi Jamaat event during the COVID-19 lockdown
NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court on Thursday delivered a landmark verdict in favour of 70 Muslims who had been facing legal trouble for about five years. The court dismissed all 16 criminal cases filed against them for allegedly hosting foreign nationals who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin Markaz during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While reading out the judgement, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said, “The charge sheets are quashed,” putting an end to years of legal and social trauma faced by the accused. A detailed copy of the judgement will be issued soon, but the decision has already been welcomed by lawyers, community leaders, and rights activists across the country.
In March 2020, during the nationwide lockdown announced to curb the spread of COVID-19, a religious gathering took place at the famous Nizamuddin Markaz, the international headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat. Attendees included people from various countries, and some of them tested positive for COVID-19.
The incident quickly took a communal turn. News channels ran aggressive headlines, some even calling it a “Corona Jihad”, accusing Muslims of deliberately spreading the virus. Police across states began filing First Information Reports (FIRs), and over a thousand people were arrested, including Indian citizens and foreigners.
Among them were 70 Indian Muslims who had allegedly given shelter to foreign Jamaatis. Cases were filed against them, accusing them of violating pandemic rules and endangering public health.
Now, after five years, the Delhi High Court has ruled that there was no ground for these cases to continue.
Mohammad Junaid, one of the 70 people acquitted by the court, said, “We did nothing wrong. We only offered shelter to our guests, like any Muslim would. We were called criminals, traitors. My family faced humiliation for years.”
Another accused, Shahnaz Begum, said, “Our homes were raided. Police treated us like terrorists. Neighbours looked at us with suspicion. What was our fault? That we showed hospitality to someone during difficult times?” She added, “This judgment gives us relief, but who will return our lost honour and peace?”
The 70 petitioners were represented by Advocate Ashima Mandla, who filed applications seeking the quashing of FIRs against them. She argued that the accused had not broken any laws and had followed the teachings of their faith by offering shelter and food.
Speaking outside the court, Mandla said, “This case was never about health or safety. It was about targeting a particular community. The judgment proves that the allegations were politically and communally motivated.”
She also questioned why no cases were filed against political leaders and religious figures who held large gatherings during the same period, including political rallies and Hindu religious festivals.
“Why were only Muslims punished for a gathering?” she asked.
Many accused say the media played a major role in vilifying them. Photos and names were published in newspapers and on TV without any proof of wrongdoing.
Abdul Haleem, another accused, said, “I was called a ‘super spreader’ on TV. Even after I tested negative, the media didn’t correct their story. My children were thrown out of school. Who will apologise to us now?”
Rights groups like the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind have long maintained that the Tablighi Jamaat was unfairly blamed and made a scapegoat.
A PUCL spokesperson said, “This judgment proves what we have been saying for years. There was no evidence. It was all to spread hatred against Muslims.”
The Delhi Police had earlier opposed the petitions for dismissal of charges. They claimed that the accused had given shelter to foreign nationals in violation of lockdown rules.
However, critics point out that police behaviour during this case showed a clear bias. Despite being aware of gatherings elsewhere, such as in temples and ashrams, action was only taken against Muslim institutions.
Retired IPS officer Nizamuddin Khan said, “The police acted in haste and under political pressure. They did not act based on facts. They criminalised compassion.”
He added, “The question now is: will the police apologise? Or will they just move on?”
The Tablighi Jamaat is a global Islamic missionary movement that encourages Muslims to practise their faith. It is not a political organisation and does not get involved in elections or violence.
However, ever since the COVID-19 incident, the group has been painted in a negative light by certain sections of the media and politics.
Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said, “The Tablighi Jamaat has been holding events for decades. Their work is peaceful. The problem started when the government and media used the pandemic to blame Muslims.”
He added, “This judgment is a small victory, but the damage done to the Muslim image and harmony is very big.”
While the court has cleared the accused, many say that justice is still far away. Most of those arrested had to spend money on legal fees, lost jobs, and faced harassment from neighbours and even local authorities.
Some also say that clearing them now does not undo the trauma caused.
Sanaullah Sheikh, a 62-year-old man from Delhi who was one of the accused, said, “I had to sell my wife’s jewellery to fight this case. My son lost his job because the police came to our house. Today we are free, but we are still broken.”
Community groups are now demanding compensation for the accused.
Advocate Mandla said, “They must be compensated for wrongful arrest and mental trauma. The government cannot simply wash its hands off now.”
Despite the court ruling, no senior political leader from the ruling party has commented on the matter.
Opposition leader Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM said in a statement, “The Tablighi Jamaat case was used to spread hate against Muslims. The courts have spoken. Now, the people must decide whether they want such injustice in the name of governance.”
He further added, “Selective targeting of Muslims must stop. Justice must be equal for all.”
Meanwhile, leaders from the ruling BJP continue to remain silent, avoiding questions from journalists about the court’s decision.
Experts believe this case will go down in history as a reminder of how easily communal hate can be turned into legal action when unchecked.
Prof Apoorvanand, a senior academic at Delhi University, said, “What happened with the Tablighi Jamaat was not just about law, but about the soul of our democracy. When you punish someone for following their faith, you attack the idea of India.”
He added, “This verdict gives hope, but we must not forget how close we came to injustice becoming the rule.”
Despite years of suffering, many of the accused say they do not want revenge. They just want peace.
Yusuf Khan, a 40-year-old tailor from Old Delhi, said, “We are Muslims. We believe in forgiveness. But we will not forget. We only hope this never happens to anyone again — Muslim or non-Muslim.”
As the Delhi High Court clears their names, the story of the 70 Muslims who were wrongly accused stands as a powerful example of how truth can win — but only after great struggle.
