The Delhi High Court on 5 May modified its earlier interim bail order to permit Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, widely known as Engineer Rashid, to visit his ailing father at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi daily between 8 am and 8 pm until 10 May. The modification was necessitated after Rashid's father, who had been hospitalised in Srinagar, was shifted to AIIMS following a deterioration in his condition.

Background to the Modified Order

A Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain passed the revised order after Rashid's legal team argued that the earlier interim bail — granted on 28 April to allow him to visit his father in Srinagar — had become infructuous given the change in treatment location. The family's decision to move the ailing father to AIIMS prompted Rashid to seek a modification of the bail conditions to enable travel to Delhi.

On Monday, the Justice Singh-led Bench had issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and directed Rashid to furnish an alternative address in Delhi apart from his official MP residence. The NIA had opposed his request to stay at the MP residence during this period.

Strict Conditions Imposed

The original interim bail order passed on 28 April came with stringent conditions. Rashid was directed to remain either at the hospital or his designated place of residence and was barred from moving outside those premises. He was required to be accompanied by plainclothes police personnel at all times, use only one mobile phone number shared with the investigating officer, and refrain from contacting or influencing any witnesses linked to the case. Only immediate family members were permitted to meet him during the bail period.

NIA's Opposition and the Court's Humanitarian View

The NIA had opposed the grant of interim bail at every stage, pressing instead for custody parole and citing concerns over potential witness influence. The Delhi High Court, however, granted interim relief, observing that the case warranted humanitarian consideration given the deteriorating health of Rashid's father. Rashid had approached the High Court after a Patiala House Court denied him interim bail on the same grounds.

Rashid's Legal and Political Background

Engineer Rashid is facing prosecution in a terror-funding case being probed by the NIA. He has previously been granted custody parole on specific occasions, including in January 2025, when he was permitted to attend the Budget Session of Parliament. Notably, a question over the expenses for his custodial movement led to a split verdict of the Delhi High Court in November last year, a matter that remains pending for further consideration.

What Happens Next

The current modification permits Rashid daily hospital visits through 10 May, after which the court is expected to revisit the matter depending on his father's medical condition and the NIA's submissions. The case continues to balance the accused's humanitarian rights against the agency's security concerns, setting a precedent for how courts handle such requests in sensitive terror-related prosecutions.