Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer seeks interim bail

New Delhi

Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, currently in Tihar Jail over the Jammu and Kashmir terror-funding case, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking interim bail to attend Parliament’s Budget session, which starts January 31. He has requested bail from January 31 to April 5, aligning with the Parliament schedule. The first part of the session concludes on February 13, and the second part runs from March 10 to April 5, 2024.

Engineer’s legal team confirmed that his plea for interim bail will be heard alongside his earlier, pending request. The High Court recently issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding his plea to expedite his regular bail application. This follows the denial of his bail application by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Chander Jit Singh in December, who stated that his court only handles miscellaneous applications, not bail petitions.

Rashid Engineer had previously moved the High Court after the district judge transferred his case to the ASJ court, agreeing to proceed with the current court for jurisdictional reasons. In 2019, he was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Despite his incarceration, Engineer contested the 2024 elections from jail, winning by a large margin.

The ongoing investigation involves multiple high-profile figures linked to terror-funding activities in Jammu and Kashmir, orchestrated by militant groups and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.