Tablighi Jamaat case: UP court acquits 17 including 7 foreign nationals
Lucknow, Feb 19: A court here discharged 17 alleged Tablighi Jamat members, booked early last year for various offences during the COVID-19 lockdown, of all charges, saying there was no prima facie evidence on record to make them stand trial.
Out of the 17, seven are Indonesian nationals.
In the order passed on Wednesday, the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court observed that there was no prima facie evidence on record to make the accused persons stand trial in the case.
The Indonesian nationals had told the court that they had come to India on a valid visa and passport on January 20, 2020 and the first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was detected on March 2, 2020.
The FIR against them was lodged at Shahganj police station in Allahabad on April 1, 2020.
The police had booked them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Foreigners Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act. They were out on bail in the case.
The court also acquitted 10 Indians -- Ashraf PK, Shahajahn Ali, Khwaja Sabihuddin, Mohd Shakil, Mohd Ahmad, Dr Masiullah Khan, Mohd Tariq, Wasim Ahmad, Mohd Mustafa and Rizwanulhaq.
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Stalin claims DMK secured 1.54 crore votes
Chennai (PTI): DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday, in a veiled reference to the TVK, claimed that the party that won additional constituencies has gained only 17.43 lakh more votes than the DMK.
He was referring to the April 23 Assembly polls where the DMK and its allies secured 74 seats, with the Dravidian party netting 59 constituencies.
In a statement, Stalin said, "the percentage difference in votes between us and them is just 3.52 per cent," in an apparent reference to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kahzagam emerged victorious in the polls, the results of which were announced on Monday.
Claiming that the DMK alliance has secured 1.54 crore votes, Stalin said, "I consider each and every one of your votes as an invaluable token of trust".
Stating that DMK has been in power several times, he said "there is no victory we have not seen and there is no defeat we have not faced".
"Whether in victory or defeat, those who regard them equally and continue their journey toward their ideals are the comrades of the party", he said adding "you are the lifeblood and roots of the movement".
"The harvest of 1.54 crore votes is the fruit of your commitment", he said.
"What return can I offer for your hard work? With the feeling of being the chief worker, we will continue our journey," the DMK chief added.
Stalin said "if we are the ruling party, we will formulate schemes for the people. If we are the opposition party, we will fight for the people's demands. In that regard, now as a strong opposition party, we will continue to work for the people".
Asserting that the DMK will continue the journey of taking forward the policies of the century-old great Dravidian movement, protecting race, language, and nation, the DMK leader said "in our journey, I will not leave anyone behind. We will win again".
