Jammu and Kashmir’s incarcerated Member of Parliament has been granted interim bail by the Judiciary.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted one weeks’ interim bail to jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid to visit his ailing father.
A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Madhu Jain allowed Rashid to either remain in the hospital or residence where his father is located, in presence of atleast two police officials in plain clothes. The court also directed him to furnish a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with a surety and restricted him to remain at his residence or at the place where his father is currently located.
While granting relief, the court noted that Rashid is a sitting MP, has been in custody for over six years and had previously been granted 48 days of bail.
Rashid was elected from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror-funding case.
“After going through the record and considering the facts, this court is of the opinion that this is a fit case for grant of interim bail for 1 week on following conditions that the appellant shall give personal bond of ₹1 lakh with surety of the like amount, the appellant shall be accompanied by at least two police officials in plain clothes and shall remain in the residence or where his father currently located. During the period when the appellant is with his father, there shall not be any undue visitors besides immediate family members,” the court said.
Rashid had moved the high court against the trial court’s April 24 order when it rejected his bail plea. The trial court had taken note of allegations that he attempted to influence witnesses, including a protected witness.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Rashid’s lawyer, N Hariharan, along with advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, argued that allegations of influencing witnesses were unfounded and that his father’s medical condition justified the grant of interim bail.
Opposing the plea, the National Investigation Agency, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, special counsel Akshai Malik, and advocate Khawar Saleem, submitted that there was material indicating attempts to influence witnesses. Luthra pointed out that one witness had turned hostile and levelled allegations against it, raising concerns that other witnesses could also be influenced.
He argued that granting unconditional bail could risk interference with the trial.
Rashid’s father is critically ill and is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Srinagar.
