Delhi HC grants Engineer Rashid one-week interim bail to visit ailing father
Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has granted Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid a rare one-week humanitarian bail in an active NIA terror-funding case — overruling both a lower court denial and NIA's push for custody parole. The strict conditions imposed, including round-the-clock police escort and a single monitored phone, underscore the court's balancing act between humanitarian need and national security concerns.
Key Takeaways
Delhi High Court granted one-week interim bail to Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid on 29 April 2025 in an NIA terror-funding case.
Rashid must remain at his father's hospital or residence and is barred from moving outside these premises.
At least two plain-clothes police personnel will accompany him at all times during the bail period.
He must use only one mobile phone number , registered with the NIA investigating officer and kept switched on at all times.
The NIA will bear the cost of security and escort arrangements during the interim bail period.
Rashid had previously been denied interim bail by a Patiala House Court ; the NIA had instead pressed for custody parole.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, granted one week's interim bail to jailed Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in a terror-funding case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to enable him to visit and care for his ailing father. Rashid, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, had approached the High Court after a Patiala House Court earlier denied him the same relief.
Court's Order and Conditions
A division bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain allowed the plea and directed Rashid's release on furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with one surety of the like amount. The bench observed:
Point of View
Plain-clothes escort at all times, and a restricted perimeter. What this case also quietly surfaces is a still-unresolved question about who bears custodial movement costs — a split verdict from November last year remains pending. That administrative ambiguity in a high-profile national security case points to a systemic gap in how India's courts and investigative agencies coordinate around jailed elected representatives.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Engineer Rashid granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court?
The Delhi High Court granted Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid one week's interim bail on humanitarian grounds to allow him to visit and care for his ailing father. The court noted it was a fit case for interim bail after reviewing the records.
What conditions has the Delhi High Court imposed on Engineer Rashid's interim bail?
Rashid must remain either at the hospital where his father is being treated or at his father's residence, and cannot move outside these premises. He must be accompanied by at least two plain-clothes police personnel at all times, use only one registered mobile number kept switched on, and is prohibited from contacting or influencing any witnesses in the case.
What is the NIA terror-funding case against Engineer Rashid?
Engineer Rashid, the sitting MP from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, is facing prosecution in a terror-funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He has been lodged in Tihar Jail and was previously granted custody parole, including in January 2025 to attend the Budget Session of Parliament.
Did the NIA oppose Engineer Rashid's interim bail?
Yes, the NIA opposed the plea and instead pressed for custody parole. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the NIA, argued there was material suggesting attempts to influence witnesses and raised concerns about interference with the ongoing trial.
Who appeared for Engineer Rashid in the Delhi High Court?
Senior advocate N. Hariharan appeared for Engineer Rashid and argued that his father's deteriorating medical condition warranted urgent humanitarian relief. He also submitted that allegations of witness influence were unsubstantiated and that certain NIA material had not initially been disclosed to the defence.
