Justice After Years of Struggle: Victory Over Communal Bias in Tablighi Case

Yasmin Farooqui, National General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India, welcomes the Delhi High Court’s landmark decision to quash 16 FIRs and chargesheets against 70 members of the Tablighi Jamaat. This ruling stands as a strong rebuke to the communal narrative that vilified Muslims during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing how a public health issue was exploited for political gain.

In March 2020, the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi was labeled a “super-spreader” event, even though it occurred before the nationwide lockdown. The charges—ranging from criminal conspiracy to violation of lockdown rules—were unsupported by credible evidence. What followed was a targeted media and political campaign that branded Tablighi members as threats, with terms like “CoronaJihad” stoking communal hatred. These efforts distracted from the government’s own failures in pandemic preparedness.

The verdict by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna reinforces that justice can prevail when facts outweigh prejudice. Yet, this victory was not easily won. It took a relentless five-year legal battle, during which the accused endured emotional distress, financial strain, and social stigma. Alongside the 2020 acquittal of 36 foreign nationals, this case highlights a troubling pattern of executive overreach and selective prosecution aimed at vilifying a single community.

The Social Democratic Party of India calls for accountability from the government for blacklisting over 950 foreign nationals and pursuing baseless cases. We also urge the media to critically examine its role in spreading narratives that violated international norms, including WHO guidelines against religious profiling.

We extend our deepest appreciation to the legal team, led by Advocate Ashima Mandla, whose tireless efforts helped secure this long-awaited justice. This verdict is not just a legal triumph—it is a call to restore public trust, uphold constitutional values, and ensure that no community in India is ever scapegoated again.