New Delhi, Feb 3: On Monday, the NIA contested a request in the Delhi High Court from sealed-jail Jammu and Kashmir MP Rashid Engineer for temporary bail tied to a terror financing case, enabling him to attend Parliament.
In its argument presented to Justice Vikas Mahajn, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) asserted that Engineer’s plea exemplifies a typical misuse of the temporary bail provisions, which should be applied restrictedly when the accused exhibits significant grief and suffering.
The plea for interim bail submitted by Rashid is set to be reviewed on February 4.
He urges temporary bail for participation in the budget session of Parliament, which commenced on January 31 and is expected to conclude on April 4.
Rashid, who represents the Baramulla constituency, won the seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has been detained in Tihar Jail since 2019 after the NIA apprehended him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 terror funding investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering case against the individuals involved, based on the NIA’s FIR, which accused them of “plotting to wage war against the government” and instigating unrest in the Kashmir region.
The cases involving the NIA and the ED also pertain to prominent figures like Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, along with others.
