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After Patna High court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow, Sushil Kumari on Wednesday dismissed all cases against 11 Indian and eight Indonesian members of the Tablighi Jamaat during the Covid-19 lockdown as the investigating officer’s report failed to prove them guilty. 

Tablighi members who were arrested in Prayagraj district in April 2020 are currently on bail and their personal bonds which they had furnished in court at the time of bail have been released by the CJM.

The court quashed cases against Indonesian foreigners as the charge sheet presented in court by the investigating officer did not produce substantial evidence to back their claims of visa regulation violations or involvement in religious preaching. 

The court noted that there was no mention of the violation of quarantine rules by the Tablighi members in the investigating officer’s report.

The Tablighi Jamaat was targeted by right-wing forces including BJP ministers and Godi media channels. However, several courts across India, like The Bombay High Court had observed that Tablighi foreigners were made scapegoats and have revoked charges labelled against them.