The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s response to a bail plea moved by Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid in a terror funding case..The Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued the notice to NIA on Rashid's appeal challenging a trial court's refusal to grant him regular bail in the matter..Rashid has been in jail since 2019 in the terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).In 2024, Rashid won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat by defeating current Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes. He was later granted interim bail to campaign during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. In March this year, Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh of Patiala House Court denied regular bail to the MP. Rashid has previously also been granted custody parole to attend the Parliament proceedings. .Today, the High Court also heard a plea filed by Rashid to challenge the criminal charges framed against him by the trial court. NIA objected to this plea, stating that it has been filed after a considerable delay. "There is substantial delay in this matter. There is a delay of 1100 days," Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akshai Malik submitted..Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, who also appeared in the matter for the NIA and argued,"The mandate of law is that delay beyond 90 days cannot be condoned. He will have to explain the grounds for delay. There is substantial delay. This is something I am opposing.".In response, the counsel representing Rashid argued that the delay can be condoned by the Court."90 days period is not sacrosanct and the power to condone is with the Court specially when matters relate to life and liberty," he said..The Court asked that a reply be filed on the limited point of condonation of delay and listed the matter for hearing on July 29..Advocates Aditya Wadhwa and Vikhyat Oberoi represented Rashid..[Read Live Coverage]
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s response to a bail plea moved by Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid in a terror funding case..The Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued the notice to NIA on Rashid's appeal challenging a trial court's refusal to grant him regular bail in the matter..Rashid has been in jail since 2019 in the terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).In 2024, Rashid won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat by defeating current Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes. He was later granted interim bail to campaign during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. In March this year, Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh of Patiala House Court denied regular bail to the MP. Rashid has previously also been granted custody parole to attend the Parliament proceedings. .Today, the High Court also heard a plea filed by Rashid to challenge the criminal charges framed against him by the trial court. NIA objected to this plea, stating that it has been filed after a considerable delay. "There is substantial delay in this matter. There is a delay of 1100 days," Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akshai Malik submitted..Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, who also appeared in the matter for the NIA and argued,"The mandate of law is that delay beyond 90 days cannot be condoned. He will have to explain the grounds for delay. There is substantial delay. This is something I am opposing.".In response, the counsel representing Rashid argued that the delay can be condoned by the Court."90 days period is not sacrosanct and the power to condone is with the Court specially when matters relate to life and liberty," he said..The Court asked that a reply be filed on the limited point of condonation of delay and listed the matter for hearing on July 29..Advocates Aditya Wadhwa and Vikhyat Oberoi represented Rashid..[Read Live Coverage]
