A Delhi court on Wednesday rejected the interim bail plea of jailed Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid, who had sought permission to visit his ailing father in Jammu and Kashmir. The court observed that the plea lacked merit and that the grounds cited were not sufficient to grant relief.
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 case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He is accused of providing support to separatist and terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley.
Rashid had moved the court seeking interim bail on humanitarian grounds, stating that his father was seriously ill and needed his presence. However, the NIA opposed the plea, arguing that the accused could flee or influence witnesses if released.
Court's Ruling
Additional Sessions Judge Vikas Dhull rejected the plea after hearing arguments from both sides. The court noted that the medical condition of Rashid's father, while serious, did not warrant interim bail at this stage, especially given the seriousness of the charges against the MP.
Rashid's counsel had argued that the right to meet ailing parents is a fundamental right and that the MP should be allowed to visit his father under strict conditions. However, the court was not convinced and dismissed the application.
Previous Bail Attempts
This is not the first time Engineer Rashid has sought bail. Earlier, his pleas for regular bail and default bail were also rejected by the court. The NIA has opposed all such attempts, citing the gravity of the allegations and the potential threat to national security.
The case is currently pending trial, and the next hearing is scheduled for next month. Rashid remains lodged in Tihar Jail.
