According to the reports, the accused Malaysians had sought lesser punishment under the plea bargain process by accepting mild charges. Hearing this plea today, the court permitted the Malaysian tablighis to walk free on a fine of Rs 7,000 each.
Plea bargaining is a pre-trial negotiation between the accused and the prosecution where the accused agrees to plead guilty in exchange of certain concessions by the prosecution.
Earlier on Thursday, a Saket court granted bail to other 76 foreign nationals from eight different countries who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. Considering the same negotiation, the accused foreign nationals who have right now been granted bail on the personal bond of Rs 10,000 each, will file a plea bargaining the application on Friday, July 10.
It is to be marked that the Supreme Court while hearing a plea by foreign members of Tablighi Jamaat on Thursday, last week, had pronounced that if there are procedures in criminal cases against any individual pending, then there's no question of deportation.
34 foreign Jamaatis had filed a plea requesting the top court that they should be allowed to return to their countries. The foreign individuals said that they had arrived in India before the lockdown was enforced and had not exactly harmed national security by taking part in a Tablighi Jamaat gathering.
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The plea was filed against an order by the Ministry of Home Affairs for blacklisting more than 2,500 foreign nationals for their alleged involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities.
Responding to this, the Supreme Court said that it will not interfere in the Centre's action in a criminal case. However, the court ordered that all the petitioners will be permitted to make representations before concerned authorities.
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