Jailed Baramulla Member of Parliament Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid, has been granted a fresh period of interim bail by the Delhi High Court. On Tuesday, a division bench allowed his temporary release from June 25 to June 30 to enable him to participate in the 40th-day post-death ceremonies of his late father.
However, the court ruled that Rashid must first surrender on June 2, marking the expiration of his current interim bail period, before being released again later in the month.
A Split Release Schedule
The bench, comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain, issued the order after Rashid’s senior counsel urged the court to extend his current temporary release. The defense argued that the parliamentarian’s presence was essential for upcoming traditional ceremonies scheduled in Srinagar to mark the 40th day of his father’s burial.
While the court declined a direct extension of his current term, it structured a two-part schedule.
“After the interim bail [granted on May 18] expires on June 2, the appellant shall surrender,” the bench ordered. “However, for the period from June 25 to June 30, interim bail is again granted in order to enable the appellant to participate in the rites and ceremonies on the 40th day.”
Strict Security and Travel Conditions
The High Court clarified that the second block of interim bail in late June will carry the exact same stringent security protocols imposed during his current release.
Under these established terms:
- Constant Escort: Rashid must be accompanied at all times by at least two plainclothes police officials.
- Controlled Journey: The security detail will remain with him from the moment he leaves Delhi’s Tihar Jail until his return.
- Restricted Movement: While in Srinagar, Rashid is permitted to visit his family residence, the local burial ground, or designated places of worship. He is strictly prohibited from traveling or moving anywhere else.
Timeline of Temporary Releases
This decision marks the latest in a series of highly monitored temporary releases granted to Rashid on humanitarian grounds over the past month:
- April 28: The court granted a one-week interim bail allowing Rashid to visit his ailing father in Srinagar. This was subsequently extended to May 10 after his father was shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for specialized treatment.
- May 18: Following his father’s passing, the bench granted interim bail until June 2 to allow Rashid to attend the funeral and initial rites.
- June 25 – June 30: The newly scheduled block to allow his participation in the 40th-day rituals.
Background of the Case
Engineer Rashid has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2019. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case, where he faces allegations of funding separatists and terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following his naming in a chargesheet in October 2019, a special NIA court formally framed charges against Rashid and several co-accused in March 2022. He is currently facing trial under stringent legal provisions, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alongside Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124A (sedition).
