Patiala House Court Rejects Rashid Engineer’s Bail Plea In Terror Funding Case

Rashid Engineer, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla, has suffered a setback as the Patiala House Court rejected his regular bail petition in the ongoing terror funding case.

Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as the engineer, sought bail in connection with charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the 2017 terrorist financing case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had opposed his bail during the hearing.

NIA’s Opposition To Bail

During the court proceedings, senior advocate Hariharan, representing Rashid Engineer, argued that his client’s conduct warranted the grant of regular bail.

Hariharan also stated that he was ready to address all the objections the prosecution raised.

Despite these arguments, the court rejected Engineer’s bail plea.

Rashid Engineer, who defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has been in custody since 2019.

He was arrested by the NIA in connection with a case involving terrorist financing.

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Investigators brought up his name during the interrogation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who had been arrested for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir Valley.

Patiala House Court Ordered Framing Of Charges And Links To Terrorist Groups

In March 2022, the Patiala House Court ordered the framing of charges against multiple individuals, including Rashid Engineer, for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

The authorities accuse these individuals of having links with organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), all of which receive support from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.

The charges also implicate Engineers in activities that include attacks on civilians and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Case And The Role Of Separatist Groups

The NIA’s investigation indicates that the All Party Hurriyat Conference, established in 1993, played a key role in promoting separatist activities in the region.

The case highlights how various individuals finance terrorism, which the NIA argues aims to destabilize the region and undermine national security.

As of now, Rashid Engineer remains in jail while the legal proceedings continue.

The court’s decision to reject his bail plea marks another chapter in the ongoing investigation into terrorist financing in Jammu and Kashmir.

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