The police on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it has neither arrested nor detained any foreign national in the case lodged in connection with the religious congregation at Nizamuddin during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“No one has been arrested in the case so far. No one has been detained by the police in this case. More than 900 foreign Tablighi Jamaat attendees, including the petitioners, have joined investigation in the case,” the police said in its status report.

The submission was made in a petition seeking release of 916 foreign nationals who participated in the event and are being held in institutional quarantine since March 30 despite having tested negative for COVID-19.

The plea was filed by 20 of the 916 foreigners who said the continued detention violates their liberty.

The police added that the investigation is being conducted on a daily basis.

During the hearing, advocates appearing for the petitioners, urged that all foreign nationals who have tested negative for the virus be released from institutional quarantine to alternative accommodations.

The HC took on record two status reports filed by Delhi Police and the concerned SDM who said the Department of Revenue (Delhi) has not kept the foreign nationals under any type of custody and is just looking after them.

In its status report, Delhi Police said the menace and hazard of COVID-19 viral infection during large gatherings was verbally conveyed to Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad and the management of the Nizamuddin centre on several occasions, including during meetings held in a police station in March.

“The meeting was held by an SHO on March 24 and was attended by members of the Tablighi Jamaat centre management. However, Mr. Saad and the management officials did not inform any government agency about the gathering inside the centre,” read the status report.

“They deliberately, willfully, negligently and malignantly disobeyed lawful directions. Written notices were issued to Mr. Saad and the management. However, they refused to pay heed. The premises was inspected by the area SDM between March 26 -30,” added the report.

The report said that around 1,300 devotees from various States and countries were residing at the centre; social distancing norms were being violated and no one was wearing masks or using hand sanitisers.