Delhi High Court Directs NIA To Expedite Hearing Over Engineer Rashid’s Bail Plea

Rashid Engineer

The Delhi High Court on Monday instructed the special court handling National Investigation Agency cases to expedite the hearing of the bail petition filed by Engineer Rashid, also known as Rashid Khan.

Rashid, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Jammu and Kashmir, had recently been granted a two-day custody parole by the High Court.

Rashid, who faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a terror funding case, had earlier approached the High Court seeking clarification on which court had the jurisdiction to hear his bail plea. However, he withdrew the petition on Monday after the Court clarified the jurisdictional issue.

Justice Vikas Mahajan, while hearing the case, directed the NIA court to prioritize the hearing of Rashid’s bail plea. The Court specifically stated, “Patiala House Court is requested to dispose of the bail application of the petitioner expeditiously.”

Initially, the NIA court hearing Rashid’s case had declined to consider his bail plea, suggesting that the special court for MPs and MLAs should hear it, given that he is an elected MP. In response, Rashid had approached the Delhi High Court for clarification on which court had the authority to hear his bail application.

The High Court clarified that the NIA court would continue to handle the case, and following this clarification, Rashid withdrew his petition.

Inam Un Nabi, the spokesperson for Rashid’s Awami Itehad Party, explained that the petition was withdrawn because the High Court had already issued an administrative order confirming that the trial would continue before the same judge in the Special NIA Court in New Delhi.

Recently, the Delhi High Court had granted Rashid a two-day custody parole to attend the Parliament’s budget session. During this parole, Rashid was restricted from using the internet and interacting with the media.

Rashid, elected from the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after defeating People Conference leader Omar Abdullah, has been incarcerated in Tihar Jail since 2019. He was arrested by the NIA in connection with the 2017 terror funding case.