NEW DELHI — The Delhi High Court has modified its earlier order granting interim bail to Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, and permitted him to visit his ailing father, admitted to AIIMS in the national capital.
In its latest order, a Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain permitted Rashid to go to AIIMS daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. till May 10.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had granted interim bail to Rashid to enable him to visit his father, who was then admitted to a hospital in Srinagar. However, following a deterioration in his father’s condition, the family shifted him to AIIMS, prompting Rashid to seek modification of the interim bail order to allow him to travel to Delhi.
The plea seeking modification of the bail conditions was moved on the ground that the earlier relief had become infructuous due to the change in the location of his father’s treatment.
On Monday, the Justice Singh-led Bench issued notice to the NIA (National Investigation Agency) in the matter and asked Rashid to provide details of an alternative address in Delhi, apart from his official residence. During the hearing, the NIA opposed his request to stay at his MP residence in Delhi.
In an order passed on April 28, the Delhi High Court had granted one week’s interim bail to Rashid in a terror-funding case being probed by the NIA, allowing him to visit and care for his ailing father in Srinagar under strict conditions.
It had directed that he remain either at the hospital where his father was undergoing treatment or at the place of residence, and not move outside those premises.
The Justice Singh-led Bench had further ordered that Rashid 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 connected with the case. Only immediate family members were permitted to meet him during the interim bail period.
The NIA had opposed the grant of interim bail and instead pressed for custody parole, citing concerns over potential witness influence. However, the Delhi High Court granted interim relief, observing that the case warranted humanitarian consideration in view of the deteriorating health of Rashid’s father.
Rashid had approached the Delhi High Court after a Patiala House Court earlier denied him interim bail to visit his hospitalised father.
The J&K’s Baramulla MP is facing prosecution in a terror-funding case and was previously granted custody parole, including in January this year, when Rashid was allowed to attend the Budget Session of Parliament.
The question relating to expenses for Rashid’s custodial movement had also led to a split verdict of the Delhi High Court in November last year and remains pending for further consideration. – IANS
