A Delhi court on Friday rejected the interim bail plea of jailed Member of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, Engineer Rashid. The court cited lack of merit in his plea, which sought temporary release for personal reasons.
Court's Decision
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh of the Patiala House Court dismissed the application, observing that no grounds were made out for granting interim bail. The judge noted that Rashid had not provided sufficient reasons to justify his release from custody.
Background of the Case
Engineer Rashid, who represents the Baramulla constituency in the Lok Sabha, has been in judicial custody since August 2019 in connection with a terror funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The case pertains to alleged funding of separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rashid had filed the interim bail plea seeking release for a few days to attend to personal family matters. However, the NIA opposed the plea, arguing that Rashid was a influential person and could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if released.
Legal Arguments
During the hearing, Rashid's counsel argued that his client has been in custody for over four years and that the trial was progressing slowly. They contended that the right to a speedy trial was being violated and sought interim bail on humanitarian grounds.
The NIA, however, countered that Rashid's release would hamper the investigation and that there was a risk of him fleeing justice. The agency also pointed out that Rashid had not cooperated with the investigation and had been evasive during questioning.
Next Steps
With the rejection of the interim bail plea, Rashid will continue to remain in judicial custody. His regular bail plea is still pending before the court and is likely to be heard later this month. The case has drawn significant political attention, with Rashid being a prominent political figure from the Kashmir Valley.
