Interim Bail Granted: Rashid Engineer Can Campaign in Upcoming J&K Elections

Abrar, son of Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, expressed joy over a special NIA court in Delhi granting his father interim bail in a terror funding case. The court's decision allows him to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Abrar, the son of Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, expressed his happiness after Delhi's special NIA court granted interim bail to his father in a terror funding case. 'This is both an emotional and proud moment,' Abrar said on Tuesday.

He further stated, 'More than us, people who came out in his support and people who voted for him will be happy today. By tomorrow the release order copy should come and then he will be released. We are hopeful that he will get permanent bail. We thank the judiciary.'

Awami Itihaad Party's Chief Spokesperson, Inam Un Nabi, mentioned, 'We had applied for regular bail first. Later, we applied for interim bail on September 5 with reference to the Supreme Court judgement on Arvind Kejriwal. The court has given relief today.' Earlier today, Delhi's special NIA court granted interim bail to parliamentarian Rashid Engineer in connection with a terror funding case until October 2, 2024. He is expected to surrender on October 3, but the order allows him to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Rashid Engineer had initially requested interim bail for three months. His regular bail application remains pending with a decision expected on September 11. The MP was arrested in 2017 in connection with a Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case and has filed a second regular bail application in Delhi's Patiala House court.

Previously, Rashid Engineering was granted two-hour custody parole on July 5 to take the oath as a Member of Parliament. In 2005, he was arrested by the Special Operations Group in Srinagar under allegations of supporting militants, though he was later released. In August 2019, he faced arrest again under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. While in jail, he won the 2024 parliamentary elections by defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

(With inputs from agencies.)