September 10th 2024.
A Delhi court has granted interim bail to Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid from Kashmir until October 2nd, allowing him to campaign in the upcoming state assembly elections. Rashid, also known as Sheikh Abdul Rashid, had emerged victorious against former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Baramulla.
These elections are set to take place in three phases from September 18th to October 1st for the 90-member legislative assembly of the union territory. The results will be announced on October 8th. The relief was granted by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh on the condition that Rashid provides a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of the same amount.
The judge stated, "I am granting interim bail till October 2nd. He will have to surrender on October 3rd." He also imposed several conditions, including not to influence witnesses or the ongoing investigation. This decision comes after Rashid was granted custody parole on July 5th to attend his oath-taking ceremony as a member of the Lok Sabha.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 when he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities Act in connection with a 2017 terror funding case. He is currently being held at Tihar jail. The court is expected to announce its decision on his regular bail application tomorrow.
The name of Engineer Rashid came up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the valley. The NIA had filed a charge sheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, in connection with this case. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after pleading guilty to the charges.
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