Delhi Court Grants Interim Bail to MP Rashid Engineer Amidst Controversy

Delhi's special NIA court has granted interim bail to MP Rashid Engineer till October 2, 2024, in a terror funding case. This allows Rashid to campaign for the upcoming J&K assembly elections. His regular bail plea’s decision is expected on September 11, 2024.

In a significant development, Delhi's special NIA court granted interim bail to parliamentarian Rashid Engineer on Tuesday. The bail is effective until October 2, 2024, allowing Rashid to campaign for the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The court ordered him to surrender on October 3 before the concerned jail authorities.

Rashid's counsel, Vikhyat Oberoi, emphasized that the bail is crucial for Rashid to fulfill his parliamentary duties and participate in election campaigning. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), however, opposed the bail plea, warning that Rashid might misuse his position to influence witnesses and obstruct justice.

The NIA presented a confidential report suggesting Rashid had previously misused telephone privileges while incarcerated, leading to restrictions on his calls. The agency further alleged Rashid's defense of the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed as part of a troubling alignment with extremist narratives. The NIA urged the court to reject the bail plea, citing concerns of potential misuse of liberty.

The Patiala House Court also reserved its decision on Rashid's regular bail plea, which is expected on September 11, 2024. The court had earlier granted Rashid two-hour custody parole to take his oath as Member of Parliament. Rashid, who won the Baramulla seat by a notable margin against Omar Abdullah, remains entangled in legal battles while his political career advances.

(With inputs from agencies.)