Delhi High Court To Hear Rashid Engineer’s Petition In Terror Funding Case

The Delhi High Court will hear the petition filed by Rashid Engineer, Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla, on March 25.

Engineer faces accusations in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

His petition seeks temporary bail to attend Parliament sessions, but the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed the request, arguing that Engineer should not use his position as an MP to evade legal proceedings.

Background Of The Case

Rashid Engineer, elected as MP from Baramulla in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has remained in custody since 2019.

The NIA arrested him in connection with a 2017 terror funding case involving separatist and terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

The charges against him are serious, involving financing unlawful activities aimed at disturbing peace in the region.

Despite his imprisonment, Engineer’s recent election victory has brought attention back to his legal battle.

Court’s Stance & NIA’s Objections

The court initially scheduled the hearing for an earlier date but postponed it after both the NIA and Engineer’s defense lawyers requested a delay.

NIA officials filed an affidavit, arguing that the court should deny Rashid Engineer bail or parole to attend parliamentary sessions because he is an MP.

They contended that the legal provisions under UAPA should take precedence over his political status, emphasizing that his elected position should not allow him to evade legal accountability.

In contrast, Engineer’s legal team argued that he should be allowed to attend Parliament, as he was elected to represent the people of Baramulla.

Engineer stated that his participation in the ongoing parliamentary session, which began on March 10 and will continue until April 4, is essential to fulfilling his responsibilities to his constituents.

Previous Court Decisions

The Patiala House Court had previously rejected Engineer’s petition for temporary bail to attend Parliament.

Additionally, the court had scheduled a hearing for March 19 to decide on his regular bail plea.

Engineer had been granted two days of interim parole in February to attend the Parliament session but is now seeking further relief.

Impact On The Case

The ongoing legal battle involving Rashid Engineer has highlighted the complex intersection of politics and legal accountability.

As an elected representative, his ability to participate in government proceedings is under scrutiny, while the charges against him continue to raise questions about the accountability of political figures involved in terror-related activities.

The Delhi High Court’s decision will play a crucial role in determining whether Rashid Engineer’s political status will allow him to temporarily escape from legal proceedings or if he will remain under the legal scrutiny of the NIA.

The case serves as an important example of how legal systems handle allegations against public figures, particularly in cases of national security and terror funding.

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