SRINAGAR: The Patiala House Court has reserved its decision on the interim bail application filed by incarcerated North Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid. The bail plea seeks permission for Rashid to attend the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The court has also sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by November 27.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav is expected to announce the verdict on the same date. Rashid, who represents Baramulla in the Lok Sabha and leads the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP), is currently in judicial custody at Delhi’s Tihar Jail on charges of involvement in terror funding.
Rashid’s counsel argued that the MP’s presence in Parliament is vital for fulfilling his duties as an elected representative. Speaking via video conference during the hearing, Rashid pleaded, “With folded hands, I request that I may be granted interim bail.”
The bail application has been pending for several months, with Rashid’s legal team urging the court to expedite proceedings. Another co-accused in the case also addressed the court, expressing confusion over the judicial process and requesting an in-person hearing.
Given Rashid’s status as a public representative, the court also considered a recommendation to transfer the case to a specialised MP/MLA court. On November 21, an NIA special court suggested the transfer, but both the NIA and Rashid’s defence opposed the move, citing the lack of specific provisions in the NIA Act.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the NIA, argued against the transfer. Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, representing Rashid, highlighted delays in addressing the bail plea and stressed the need for an expeditious trial.
Rashid was arrested in August 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a terror funding case. The NIA alleges links to high-profile individuals, including Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin. Despite his incarceration, Rashid contested the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and secured victory over former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Baramulla.
