2 Jamaatis of other states granted bail

Prayagraj: A local court on Tuesday granted bail to two members of Tablighi Jamaat of other states who were arrested during lockdown for hiding in a local mosque.
Those granted bail are Nizammudin of Tamil Nadu and Rashid of Kerala. They were granted bail by judicial magistrate (4th) of Prayagraj. These persons were arrested on April 21, 2020 along with others, including 16 foreign participants on charges of taking part in Tablighi Jamaat meet at Nizamuddin in New Delhi.
Earlier, on June 2, 2020, Prof Mohammed Shahid, professor of Political Science of Allahabad University, who had allegedly facilitated the stay of Jamaatis, was also granted bail. A total of 30 people were arrested from police station areas of Kareli, Shahganj and Shivkuti of Prayagraj district. The arrested Jamaatis were staying illegally in two mosques of city. It is alleged that in March, Prof Shahid had attended Tablighi Jamaat met at Nizamuddin in New Delhi along with many of these foreigners and had shielded this information from police, besides arranging for foreigners’ stay in local mosques.
An FIR was registered against Professor Shahid and others on April 1, 2020 under the Epidemic Act in Shivkuti police station of Prayagraj and he was arrested on April 21. Later, he was suspended by university administration. However, he was released on bail by a local court on June 2, 2020. After investigation, police had submitted chargesheet against the professor and others applicants under sections of Indian Penal Code, Epidemic Act and Foreigners Act. However, chargesheet was filed against Prof Shahid under section 120B (Conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code. The court granted them bail under these sections.