Delhi HC seeks NIA’s response on bail plea of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid

NEW DELHI — The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit its response to a bail application filed by Baramulla Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, who is facing charges in a “terror funding” case.

A division bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued notice on the appeal filed by Rashid against a trial court’s March 21 decision denying him bail.

The court also sought the NIA’s reply to a separate plea in which Rashid has challenged the framing of charges against him. However, the bench clarified that the agency’s response should be limited only to the matter of a nearly 1,100-day delay in contesting the charges.

Both matters have been scheduled for a detailed hearing on July 29.

Engineer Rashid has been incarcerated in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 funding case.