Srinagar- In a potentially game-changing move, a Delhi Court on Tuesday granted interim bail till October 2 to Lok Sabha MP from Kashmir Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid in a terror funding case to enable him to campaign in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Engineer Rashid, defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Baramulla.
Elections are scheduled to be held for the 90-member legislative assembly of the union territory in three phases from September 18 to October 1. The results will be declared on October 8.
Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh granted the relief to Rashid on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of the like amount.
“I am granting interim bail till October 2. He will have to surrender on October 3,” the judge said.
The judge also imposed various conditions on him including that he shall not influence the witnesses or the probe.
On July 5, the court had granted Rashid custody parole to take the oath as a member of the Lok Sabha.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case.
He is lodged in Tihar jail.
The court has reserved for tomorrow its order on his regular bail application.
Rashid’s name cropped up in the case during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.
The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several people, including JKLF leader Muhammad Yasin Malik, Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, in the case.
Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Victory Of People: AIP
Meanwhile, reacting to the release AIP’s chief spokesman Inam un Nabi said on Tuesday that this was the victory of people of north Kashmir who voted in large numbers to ensure Er Rashid’s victory.
Inam’s remarks came after Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was granted interim bail in a terror funding case by a Delhi court.
“There are jubilations in the party and joy in Er Rashid’s family,” he said.
Inam said that the family members of Er Rashid are eagerly waiting to see him after five long years. Rashid emerged as a big leader despite being in jail for the last five years, after defeating National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone in Lok Sabha polls held in April-May. The voter turnout in the polls was over 58 per cent.
The AIP spokesman said that now that Er Rashid is allowed to carry out campaigning for his party, candidates will get a huge push as the party chief is known as a “crowd puller” for being articulate and clear in his speeches. “His release, though for 40 days, will make a big difference in the party. Our candidates are happy over the Delhi court’s verdict.”
Asked when Er Rashid is expected to reach home, Inam said that formalities are being completed and the party chief is likely to reach home Wednesday evening. Er Rashid was arrested for his alleged involvement in terror funding by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The north Kashmir MP will oversee his party’s larger participation in Assembly elections that are being held after a decade in J&K.
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