Delhi HC Grants Interim Bail To Engineer Rashid For Father’s Post-Death Rituals

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid from June 25 to June 30 to enable him to attend the post-death rituals of his father in Srinagar.

A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain directed Rashid to surrender before jail authorities on June 2 after the expiry of the interim bail earlier granted to him on May 18 for attending his father’s funeral rites.

Rashid’s counsel requested the court to extend the interim relief, stating that important religious ceremonies associated with the 40th day after burial would be held in Srinagar and his presence was required for the observances.

Allowing the plea partly, the court said Rashid would again be released between June 25 and June 30 solely to participate in the rituals. The bench clarified that the same conditions imposed during his earlier interim bail would remain applicable during the fresh release period as well.

The High Court had earlier imposed strict restrictions on Rashid’s movement. It directed that he must remain accompanied at all times by at least two plainclothes police personnel from the time he leaves Delhi’s Tihar Jail until his return from Srinagar. He was also permitted to visit only his residence, the burial ground and places of worship, and was barred from travelling elsewhere.

Engineer Rashid, a former MLA and founder of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) , has been in Tihar Jail since 2019 after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case.

Investigating agencies have alleged that Rashid funded separatist activities and terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. In March 2022, a special NIA court framed charges against him and others under sections related to criminal conspiracy, sedition and waging war against the government , along with provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) .

Earlier this year, the High Court had first granted Rashid one-week interim bail on April 28 to meet his ailing father in Srinagar. The relief was later extended till May 10 after his father was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment.