Delhi HC Quashes FIRs Against Indian Nationals for Sheltering Tablighi Jamaat Attendees During COVID-19

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, July 17, quashed 16 First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against 70 Indian nationals for providing shelter to foreign attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A bench presided over by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna delivered the judgement today.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said," Chargesheets are quashed.” 

A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited.

The High Court had reserved its verdict on April 22, 2025. The case mainly arose in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign nationals attended a Tablighi Jamaat religious gathering in Delhi.

The residents had been accused of allowing foreign Tablighi Jamaat congregation attendees to live in mosques or their houses

On March 31, 2020, FIR 63/2020 was registered by the Crime Branch under Sections 188, 269, 270, 120B, 271 of IPC and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act against Jamaat leaders for violating COVID-19 protocols and organising the congregation.

In January 2022, the Delhi High Court was informed by the Delhi Police officials that the Indian citizens, who had provided accommodation to foreign attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the Masjid premises, had not only violated the prohibitory orders issued by the Delhi Government but also contributed to the spread of COVID-19.

The developments came after the Court directed the Delhi Police to file a status report in the case seeking quashing of FIRs lodged against about 48 Delhi residents accused of allowing foreign Tablighi Jamaat congregation attendees to live in mosques or their houses while the Covid-19 pandemic was raging around the world.

Advocate Ashima Mandla appeared for the petitioners.

Case Title: Mohd Anwar & Ors. vs State of NCT of Delhi

Judgment Date: 17 July 2025

Bench: Justice Neena Bansal Krishna