Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who granted interim bail to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, on Tuesday to allow him to participate in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, postponed the decision on his regular bail application on Wednesday.
NEW DELHI: On Wednesday(11th Sept), the Patiala House Court issued a release order for Rashid Engineer, imposing a restriction that prohibits him from speaking to the media regarding his ongoing terror funding case. This decision came after the court granted him interim bail on Tuesday, ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who granted interim bail to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, on Tuesday to allow him to participate in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, postponed the decision on his regular bail application on Wednesday.
His interim bail extends until October 2.
Inam Un Nabi, the Chief Spokesperson of the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) in Jammu and Kashmir, remarked that Rashid Engineer’s release could significantly impact the Jammu and Kashmir elections. He suggested that the release might undermine the credibility of the long-established political families, exposing their unfulfilled promises.
Following the court’s decision to grant interim bail to Rashid Engineer, celebrations were observed across Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, rival political parties voiced their discontent, acknowledging the substantial influence and stature Rashid Engineer holds in the current political scenario, according to Inam Un Nabi.
On Tuesday, a special NIA court in Delhi granted Rashid Engineer interim bail in connection with a terror funding case. The interim bail, valid until October 2, 2024, allows him to campaign in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with the condition to surrender by October 3.
Rashid Engineer had initially sought interim bail for three months, while his regular bail application remains pending. The decision on the latter, initially expected on September 11, was postponed by the court.
His lawyer, Vikhyat Oberoi, argued that interim bail was crucial for Rashid Engineer to participate in the election campaign and fulfill his parliamentary duties. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the regular bail, citing concerns that Rashid Engineer, as a Member of Parliament, could influence witnesses and impede justice if released.
The NIA presented evidence that Rashid had misused telephone privileges while in Tihar Central Jail, leading to their restrictions, and feared he might engage in similar behavior if granted bail.
Additionally, the NIA alleged that Rashid Engineer had previously defended the terror acts of Hafiz Saeed, labeling them as a “political cause,” suggesting his alignment with extremist narratives.
According to the NIA, his actions are part of a broader effort by Pakistani and secessionist groups to frame terrorism as a political struggle aimed at inciting separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. On this basis, the NIA urged the court to reject his bail request.
Rashid Engineer, who recently won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is seeking bail as his case unfolds. After an in-camera hearing, Additional Sessions Judge Chanderjit Singh reserved the order on his bail application, with a decision expected on September 11, 2024.
Rashid Engineer, arrested in connection with a 2017 terror funding case, has submitted a second regular bail plea in Delhi’s Patiala House Court. Previously, in July 2024, the court granted him a two-hour custody parole to take the oath as a Member of Parliament.
In 2005, Rashid was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Srinagar on accusations of supporting militants. He spent over three months in detention before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar dropped the charges on humanitarian grounds.
In August 2019, Rashid was again detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). While in custody, he contested the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail, securing a victory over Omar Abdullah with a margin of 204,000 votes.
