Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Delhi’s Patiala House Court has granted interim bail to Sheikh Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, the Member of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency, until October 2 in connection with a terror funding case.
Rashid, who has been imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2019, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2017 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in relation to a terror funding case that emerged in 2017. His name surfaced during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was accused of funding terror groups and separatist movements in Kashmir.
Charges Against Engineer Rashid
The NIA’s investigation into the case has resulted in charges against several prominent figures, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Yasin Malik, a key figure in the case, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 after pleading guilty to the charges. Rashid’s alleged involvement in terror financing has kept him behind bars for years.
Seeking Bail for Campaigning
Engineer Rashid sought interim bail to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, set to take place on September 18, 25, and October 1. His request was granted, allowing him temporary freedom to participate in the political process until the next court hearing in October.
Rashid’s Political Journey
Earlier this year, Engineer Rashid made headlines when he defeated former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. A two-time winner of the Langate assembly seat in the 2008 and 2014 J&K elections, Rashid leads the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) but contested the elections as an Independent. He previously contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but was unsuccessful.
Mehbooba Mufti’s Criticism
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized Rashid’s party, calling it a “proxy” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking to reporters, Mufti questioned the funding behind Rashid’s party and alleged that his workers were involved in hooliganism. The remarks came after a PDP candidate from the Shopian assembly segment, Yawar Shafi Banday, was injured in an alleged attack by AIP workers.
As Engineer Rashid prepares to campaign for the upcoming elections, his legal battles and political journey remain under close scrutiny. The next court hearing is scheduled for October 2, when the case will continue to unfold.
