The Delhi High Court on Thursday called for the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) response regarding the bail plea of Jammu and Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer, who is implicated in a terror-funding investigation. Justice Vikas Mahajan scheduled the next hearing for January 30, indicating the urgency of a decision in this high-profile case.
Rashid Engineer, elected from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has been detained in Tihar Jail since 2019. His arrest came under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a 2017 case related to terror funding. The NIA has linked this case to significant figures such as Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, known for orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin.
The legal proceedings have faced delays, prompting Rashid’s counsel to urge the high court for a resolution, either through directing quicker lower court proceedings or by deciding on the bail themselves. The complexity increased as Rashid’s status as an MP necessitated the involvement of a designated court for lawmakers, a request that the NIA supported due to the nature of the accusations.
Further complicating the legal landscape, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also filed a money laundering case against Rashid, based on the initial FIR by the NIA. This FIR accuses Rashid and others of conspiring to wage war against the Indian government and inciting unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
