Delhi’s Patiala House Court has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to an application filed by Engineer Rashid, who was arrested in a 2016 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.
Victory in 2024 Elections
Rashid is seeking interim bail to take the oath as an MP after the recent general elections. Former J&K MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Rashid has requested interim bail, or custody parole as an alternative, to take the oath and perform his parliamentary duties.
The application was submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh on June 4, who directed the NIA to file its response by today. However, the agency sought more time on Thursday to file the reply.
Background of Rashid’s Arrest
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after being charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the alleged terror funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail. His name emerged during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Valley.
The NIA filed a charge sheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, in the case. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
