Rizwan, an Indian citizen and a resident of Delhi-6, has moved the Delhi High Court to quash an FIR lodged against him by the Delhi Police, who booked him under various criminal law provisions — for a humanitarian gesture.
After the imposition of the lockdown on 24 March 2020, Rizwan had a place to stay for female Tablighi Jamaat devotees who had come to attend the Markaz event, which had taken place just before.
After the imposition of the nationwide lockdown, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Daryaganj) issued an order under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code on 24 March, prohibiting any religious, cultural, social, or political activity.
Just days later on 31 March, an FIR was registered against those Indian citizens who had organised the Markaz congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi. Later on, the scope of this FIR was expanded to include more than 950 foreign nationals who had attended the Markaz event.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, all international flights were…