Rashid Engineer, an elected Member of Parliament from Baramulla and an accused in the 2017 terror funding case, is currently battling legal hurdles.
On March 12, the Delhi High Court will hear his petition challenging a decision made by the Patiala House Court.
The lower court had rejected Engineer’s request for interim bail, preventing him from attending the ongoing Parliament sessions.
Engineer’s legal team argues that as a representative of the people, he must fulfill his responsibilities, including attending Parliament sessions, and needs temporary relief to do so.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Rashid Engineer in 2017 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly funding separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Since then, Engineer has remained incarcerated in Tihar Jail.
Despite this, he won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing his political significance.
His legal team initially sought interim bail for attending Parliament sessions, and the court granted it on two occasions in February 2023.
However, the Patiala House Court dismissed his recent request on March 10.
The case took a new turn after the Patiala House Court’s decision to reject Engineer’s request.
The court had ruled that granting him temporary bail for attending Parliament was not feasible under the circumstances.
Rashid Engineer decided to challenge the lower court’s ruling, filing a petition in the Delhi High Court.
The Delhi High Court will hear the petition on March 12 to determine whether it will grant him temporary relief to perform his parliamentary duties.
Rashid Engineer’s legal battle is one that raises questions about the balance between individual rights and national security concerns.
As the Delhi High Court prepares to hear the case, it will be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for the broader context it sets in dealing with terror-related cases involving elected representatives.
The outcome could set a precedent for future cases involving elected officials and their ability to perform their duties while facing serious criminal charges.
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