Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arun Kumar Garg of the Saket court (Delhi), has ordered for the release of original passports, mobile phones and other belongings of 31 Tablighi Jamaat foreign nationals who have already been acquitted on December 15, 2020, reported LiveLaw.
After their acquittal, the Supreme Court had also taken up the matter and directed the Government of India to facilitate the return of all acquitted foreigners to their respective countries on January 13.
The CMM’s order also noted that in view of the Supreme Court’s order, the DCP Crime Branch had closed the lookout circulars that prevented all foreigners from leaving India on February 17, 2021. Thus, the application for the release of passports and other belongings was filed by the acquitted foreign nationals before the court.
The Investigating Officer also submitted that the department had no objections in releasing the passports, mobile phones and other important belongings.
The Police had closed the lookout circular of all 35 foreigners, out of which four have already been given their passports and mobile phones, reported LiveLaw. Unfortunately, one Tunisia resident, Bechir Yanes died on January 5. The other members who had come to India to attend the Jamaat are now free to leave the country.
The order delivered by CMM Garg read: “In view of the aforesaid submissions made on behalf of the parties and considering the facts that the accused have already been acquitted by this Court vide judgment dated 15.12.2020, non-filing of any appeal/revision by the State against judgment dated 15.12.2020 of this Court till date and that LOC(s) qua the applicant(s) is disposed of with the direction to release the original passport(s) of the applicant(s) to the applicant(s) or his/her (their) attorney against proper acknowledgment as per rules, after verification of his/her (their) identity”.
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