Eight Malaysians who had allegedly attended last month’s Tablighi Jamat congregation at Nizamuddin were intercepted at Delhi airport as they were about to board a special flight to Malaysia on Sunday afternoon.

The congregation has been at the centre of controversy as a hotspot for the spread of the novel coronavirus, and an appeal had been issued asking all participants to come forward and identify themselves.

“The eight Malaysian nationals were trying to board a Malindo Airways flight. They allegedly hid their participation in the Tablighi Jamat gathering,” an immigration official said.

“They have been handed over to the Delhi police and the health department for further investigation.”

Although regular international flights have been stopped, special flights are being operated by some countries to evacuate their nationals stranded abroad.

Sources said the eight Malaysians had been hiding at various places in Delhi, waiting for a chance to catch a relief flight home.

Nearly 2,000 delegates, including people from Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the congregation at Nizamuddin between March 13 and 15. The southeast Delhi neighbourhood was virtually sealed off after several people from the gathering tested positive.

The police have registered an FIR against six people on the charge of organising the congregation.