New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) whether Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, can be released on bail subject to stringent conditions, including a direction to remain in the national capital.
A bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan asked senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the NIA, to obtain instructions on the possibility of granting bail to Rashid with such conditions and listed the matter for hearing on November 3.
The High Court was hearing Rashid’s appeal challenging a trial court order denying him regular bail in the terror-funding case being investigated by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Opposing the bail plea, Luthra submitted that there was sufficient material against Rashid warranting denial of relief. The senior counsel also argued that the allegations against him were serious and that he was accused of indulging in anti-national activities and having connections with a terrorist.
During the hearing, the NIA submitted that the testimonies of two witnesses were crucial to the case, including that of a protected witness.
After hearing the submissions, the Delhi High Court directed that the statements of the two witnesses be recorded before the trial court before the next date of hearing.
Rashid, who is facing trial in the terror-funding case, has remained in custody for several years and had earlier been granted custody parole on multiple occasions, including to attend Parliament sessions.
He had fought the Lok Sabha election from jail and defeated National Conference (NC) Vice President and now Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes from the Baramulla constituency. People’s Conference President Sajad Gani Lone had finished third.
Rashid’s party, Awami Itihad Party (AIP), won one Assembly seat in the J&K polls, with his brother Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh emerging victorious from the Langate constituency in Kupwara district. Engineer Rashid himself has represented the constituency twice in the past.
Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court had granted Rashid interim bail on multiple occasions to attend to family obligations. On May 26, the High Court allowed him to avail a fresh spell of interim bail from June 25 to June 30 to attend the Chehlum, or 40th-day rituals, following the demise of his father.
It had directed that Rashid, who was then on interim bail till June 2, surrender before the jail authorities upon expiry of the existing relief and thereafter be released on interim bail for the fresh period.
The relief was subject to the same stringent conditions imposed earlier, including continuous escort by at least two plainclothes police personnel, restrictions on his stay and movement, use of only one mobile number, maintaining contact with the investigating officer, and a direction not to contact witnesses or indulge in any unlawful activity.
In its order passed on May 18, the High Court had granted Rashid interim bail till June 2 to enable him to attend the funeral and perform the last rites of his father, who had died at AIIMS-Delhi.
(IANS)
