In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Thursday quashed 16 FIRs and released 70 members of the Tablighi Jamaat, clearing them of all charges related to allegedly sheltering undocumented individuals during the COVID-19 lockdown. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, in her remarks, emphasized that the accusations lacked evidentiary backing and the individuals had been wrongfully implicated.
Although the detailed verdict is awaited, the court’s move underscores the broader concerns of targeted communal profiling and systemic bias against Muslims during the pandemic. The case not only exposes flaws in the legal proceedings but also reflects a grim chapter of communal scapegoating and media-driven hysteria.
The Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary group, became the center of controversy in 2020 when several of its members were accused of violating lockdown protocols. However, Thursday’s ruling brings long-overdue relief to the accused, many of whom have faced social exclusion, loss of livelihood, and psychological trauma.
Justice Krishna’s ruling noted how the Muslim community was unfairly “blamed, criminalized, and vilified” during the COVID-19 crisis. The narrative around the so-called “Corona Jihad” — a conspiracy theory alleging Muslims were intentionally spreading the virus — was aggressively pushed across sections of mainstream media. Sensationalist television programming and inflammatory reporting fanned communal tensions, further alienating the community.
A Tablighi Jamaat member from Delhi’s Nizamuddin area questioned the lack of accountability, saying, “Who will compensate for the years lost to false cases? It’s irresponsible to blame an entire community, spread misinformation, and then walk away without an apology or compensation.”
The case sheds light on how the pandemic was used as a pretext to marginalize Muslims. Several reports documented that Muslim localities were placed under disproportionate surveillance, and survivors of COVID-19 at times refused assistance from visibly Muslim individuals due to fear fueled by false narratives.
Misinformation campaigns included morphed videos falsely showing Muslims spitting on food, which went viral and led to a spate of attacks on Muslim vendors. Many were barred from conducting business, and social media platforms amplified hate-filled content that reinforced anti-Muslim sentiment.
A 2020 investigation by a consortium of 400 scientists found no factual basis for the allegations leveled against the Tablighi Jamaat. Nonetheless, the damage was already done.
Reacting to the court’s decision, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated, “Why should a Muslim be treated as a separate category of patient? This mindset needs to change.”
Throughout the pandemic, various groups accused Tablighi Jamaat members of refusing medical testing and violating guidelines — claims now proven baseless. Rights groups and activists have since raised concerns about the role of police overreach, administrative negligence, and communal rhetoric in exacerbating the situation.
The High Court’s ruling not only clears the names of the accused but also opens up a broader conversation about state accountability, media ethics, and the urgent need to safeguard minority rights in times of crisis.
