Syed Khalique Ahmed | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, JUNE 15—The Delhi Police Special Cell has issued a notice to Delhi Minorities Commission chairman Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, asking him to join the investigation within two days in a case pertaining to allegedly making “provocative statements”.
When contacted, Dr. Khan said that he had received the notice from the police. However, he refused to divulge the contents in the notice.
He said that he would go to the Special Cell office on Tuesday and submit whatever materials it has demanded in connection with the investigation. “I am cooperating and will continue to cooperate in the investigation”, he said.
Two court cases were filed against Dr. Khan in connection with a tweet he had made on April 28 in which he had thanked the Government of Kuwait for its stand on the attacks on Muslims in India.
Muslims all over India had come under targeted mob attacks after the revelation that about 4,000 persons were stranded at Markaz Nizamuddin even after the announcement of lockdown due to coronavirus spread. Media had blamed Tablighi Jamaat and Muslims of spreading the coronavirus disease and this resulted in attacks on Muslims in Delhi and other places and they were also subjected to trade boycott. The figures of Covid-19 positive released by the Delhi and Central government’s health departments on basis of religion had further spoiled the communal atmosphere. The health departments stopped releasing figures on religion basis only after Delhi Minority Commission issued a notice to stop this practice.
Dr. Khan had earlier submitted his laptop from which he had made the tweets. The tweets are still there on the internet.
The complainant in one of the cases demanded registration of an FIR against Dr. Khan and another demanded his removal from the post of DMC chairman.
The Delhi Police Special Cell subsequently registered an FIR against Dr. Khan on the complaint of a Vasant Kunj resident. Dr. Khan was booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code including 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc).
The Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police on May 6 also conducted a raid on Dr. Zafarul Islam in connection with the case.
Dr. Khan had moved the Delhi High Court, apprehending his arrest by the police. The Delhi High Court on May 12 had directed the police not to take coercive measure against him till June 22, the next date of hearing.
