Today, On 18th June, Engineer Rashid’s request for interim bail in a terror funding case has been denied, according to his legal team. Rashid, who won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat as an Independent candidate, defeating National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, sought bail to take his oath as an MP. The court’s rejection means he will remain in custody despite his electoral victory.
New Delhi: Engineer Rashid, who secured the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir, will remain in Delhi’s Tihar Jail following the rejection of his bail plea by an NIA court in connection with a terror funding case, his legal team confirmed on Tuesday.
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid, ran as an Independent candidate and triumphed over National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla constituency.
Rashid detained in 2016 over allegations related to a Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case. He sought interim bail to take his oath as a Member of Parliament.
Engineer Rashid has been incarcerated since 2019 after being charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967 in an alleged terror funding case.
He currently held in Tihar Jail.
Rashid’s involvement surfaced during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, whom the NIA arrested for allegedly financing terrorist groups and separatists in the region.
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 2022, Malik sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
In 2005, Rashid arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Srinagar on charges of supporting militants. He subsequently jailed for three months and 17 days. A severe charge of anti-national activities slapped on him during this period. Rashid was confined in various prisons, including Cargo, Humhama, and Raj Bagh.
Later, in a significant turn of events, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar dropped all charges against Rashid on humanitarian grounds. This legal relief marked a pivotal moment in his life and political career. Despite these challenges, Rashid’s resilience and determination continued to shine through.
In August 2019, Rashid faced another major legal challenge when he arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Despite being in jail, Rashid remained undeterred and filed his nomination form for the 2024 parliamentary elections. His campaign, run from behind bars, resonated with the electorate, resulting in a landslide victory.
Rashid won by a significant margin of two lakh four thousand votes, defeating Omar Abdullah, a prominent political figure and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
The legal battles and allegations Rashid faced highlight the complexities of his political journey. His arrest in 2005 for supporting militants and the subsequent charges of anti-national activities were severe setbacks. The time spent in various prisons, including Cargo, Humhama, and Raj Bagh, added to the challenges he faced.
This case garnered significant attention, reflecting broader concerns about the influence of terrorism financing in regional politics. The ruling highlights the judiciary’s stance on maintaining stringent measures against individuals accused of aiding terrorist activities, regardless of their political affiliations or public standing.