Delhi HC seeks NIA’s reply on Rashid bail plea

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The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to the bail plea of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who is in jail in a 2017 terror funding case.

A Bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar also sought the agency's reply to Rashid’s separate challenge against the framing of charges in the case.

Rashid has been in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2019 after being arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He is accused of funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. A trial court rejected his bail request on March 21, prompting the appeal.

His lawyer argued that Rashid has spent over five years in custody, and with the trial progressing slowly, he should be granted bail. The plea also said Rashid was never involved in terrorism and was being targeted for his political views.

“The appellant is a mainstream political leader… Due to his engagement in politics, he became a target for those who support separatist ideologies,” the plea said.

Rashid also sought temporary bail to attend Lok Sabha sessions, stating he represents nearly half of the Kashmir Valley and needs to be present in Parliament.

The NIA opposed the plea and questioned the delay in challenging the charges, which were framed in 2022 under various the IPC and the UAPA sections, including sedition and waging war against the government.

The court said the NIA should respond only on the delay aspect of the appeal and scheduled the next hearing for July 29.

Rashid’s name came up during the probe of co-accused Zahoor Watali. The NIA claims Rashid collected funds through illegal means and promoted separatist ideologies using public platforms.