Engineer Rashid Approaches Delhi HC Seeking Bail In Terror Funding Case
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, on May 15, 2025, approached the Delhi High Court seeking regular bail for his involvement in the Kashmir Terror Funding Case. Engineer Rashid had won the Baramulla parliamentary seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, he had been in judicial custody at Tihar Jail since 2019 after his arrest by the NIA under the UAPA Act in relation to a 2017 terror-funding case.
The counsels appearing for NIA argued that such application was filed after a delay of 1104 days and therefore is barred by the Limitation Act. The counsel added that any appeal filed beyond the prescribed duration of 90 days is not maintainable.
Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, appearing for Rashid, argued that such procedural provisions must not be interpreted literally when an individual's life and liberty are at stake.
The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, after recording the submissions, issued notice to NIA on the issue of maintenance. The court further listed the matter for July 29, 2025.
Previously, Engineer Rashid had approached the High Court seeking custody parole to attend the parliament budget session. He argued that he was allowed to campaign for the elections without any objection from the NIA, but was not being allowed to fulfill his constitutional duties as a member of parliament. Senior Advocate Hariharan, representing Engineer Rashid, had argued that a previous order had granted Rashid permission to attend the budget session for two days.
The Delhi High Court, in an order dated 11 February 2025, granted custody parole to Engineer Rashid to attend the upcoming Parliament budget session.
Engineer Rashid has been incarcerated since 2019 after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case related to terror funding from 2017. Engineer Rashid, who gained prominence by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, approached the court seeking temporary relief. He sought interim bail to participate in the campaign for the forthcoming Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections.
In September 2024, Engineer Rashid was granted interim bail by the Rouse Avenue Court to campaign in the elections.
For Petitioner: Senior Advocate N. Hariharan with Advocates Vikhyat Oberoi, Aditya Wadhwa, Shivam Prakash, Nishita Gupta, Ravi Sharma, and Jagriti Pandey
For Respondent: Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik, with Advocates Ayush Agarwal, and Khawar Saleem
Case Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh V/S National Investigation Agency (CRL.A.-672/2025 and CRL.M.A. 15047/2025)
[Inputs: ANI News]