HC bail to 6 Bangla nationals who took part in TJ markaz

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court granted interim bail to six Bangladeshi nationals, who were booked for allegedly misusing tourist visas to attend a religious congregation at Nizamuddin, Delhi, and then moving to Lucknow without taking a covid-19 test, triggering fears of virus spread during the lockdown.
The bench of Justice A R Masoodi, however, set strict conditions for bail, including a bar on leaving the country without court nod. Six Bangladeshi tourists, who have visa validity till July 2020, would have to surrender in court before visa expiry. Bail to a seventh applicant, Akalli Nahar, was put on hold as his visa had expired in April.
Passing the interim order, the bench said, applicants can be released on furnishing a bail bond and reliable surety.
Considering legal complications of tourists stranded in India after expiry of visa and other issues, the bench issued notice to High Commission of Bangladesh and ministry of external affairs for addressing questions on their release. The bench fixed July 16 as the next of hearing for considering regular bail to applicants — Mohammad Shafiulla, Zaheer Islam, Mohammad Allauddin, Jameela Akhtar, Rahima Khatoon and Zareena Khatoon. They were booked by Lucknow’s Madiaon police under Section 188 IPC, Section 3 Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, Section 56 Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Section 13/14B/14C Foreigners Act, 1946.
Arguing for the Bangladeshi nationals, advocate Pranshu Agrawal submitted they had come to India on a valid visa and informed authorities on their movements. They were arrested on April 18 and have spent considerable time in jail for offences in which maximum punishment was five years and hence they were entitled to bail.