Must not speak to media: Delhi Court grants interim bail to Rashid Engineer ahead of Jammu and Kashmir elections

New Delhi [India], September 11: The Patiala House Court on Wednesday issued a release order for Rashid Engineer, imposing the condition that he must not speak to the media about the ongoing terror funding case. This followed the interim bail granted to him on Tuesday, ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Rashid Engineer has been granted interim bail until October 2.
However, the pronouncement of the order on his regular bail plea, scheduled for Wednesday, has been deferred to October 5, 2024.
Inam Un Nabi, Chief Spokesperson of the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) in Jammu and Kashmir, commented on Rashid Engineer's release, stating that it could be a game changer in the Jammu and Kashmir elections. He suggested that Rashid Engineer's release might challenge the credibility of the longstanding political families in power, potentially highlighting their false promises.
Celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir following the court's granting of interim bail to Rashid Engineer were notable. Rival political parties expressed frustration, underscoring Rashid Engineer's significant stature and influence in the current political landscape, said Inam Un Nabi.
On Tuesday, Delhi's special NIA court granted interim bail to parliamentarian Rashid Engineer in connection with the terror funding case. The interim bail, which is valid until October 2, 2024, permits him to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with a directive to surrender on October 3.
Rashid Engineer had filed a bail application requesting interim bail for three months, while his regular bail application remains pending before the same court, with an order initially expected on September 11.
His counsel, Vikhyat Oberoi, argued that the interim bail was necessary for campaigning in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and to fulfill his duties as a parliamentarian.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had opposed the regular bail plea, stating that Rashid Engineer, as a Member of Parliament, might misuse his position to influence witnesses and obstruct justice if granted bail. The agency presented a confidential report indicating that Engineer had previously misused telephone facilities while in Tihar Central Jail, leading to restrictions on his call privileges. The NIA fears he might misuse his liberty in a similar manner if released on bail.
The NIA also alleged that Engineer had defended the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's terror activities as a 'political cause,' suggesting an alignment with extremist narratives. According to the NIA, Engineer is part of a strategy by Pakistani and secessionist groups to portray terrorist acts as political struggles aimed at inciting separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. Given these concerns, the NIA urged the Patiala House Court to reject Engineer's bail application.
Rashid, who recently won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeks bail as his case progresses. Additional Sessions Judge Chanderjit Singh has reserved the order on Rashid Engineer's bail application after a detailed in-camera hearing. The court is expected to pronounce its decision on September 11, 2024.
Engineer Rashid, arrested in connection with a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case, has submitted a second regular bail application in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Earlier, the same court had granted Engineer Rashid a two-hour custody parole on July 5 to allow him to take the oath as a Member of Parliament.
In 2005, Rashid was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Srinagar for allegedly supporting militants. He was held for three months and 17 days on charges of anti-national activities and incarcerated in various prisons, including Cargo, Humhama, and Raj Bagh. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar later dropped all charges against him on humanitarian grounds.
In August 2019, Rashid was again arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). While incarcerated, he filed his nomination for the 2024 parliamentary elections from jail and won by a margin of 204,000 votes, defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.