New Delhi, March 19 (HS): The Patiala House Court in Delhi has postponed the decision on the regular bail plea of accused in the terror funding case, MP Engineer Rashid. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jeet Singh has ordered to pronounce the decision on the regular bail application on March 21.

On March 10, the Patiala House Court had rejected Engineer Rashid's request for interim bail to participate in the parliamentary session, after which Rashid approached the High Court. This plea is currently pending in the High Court. On March 10, the court had reserved its decision on Engineer Rashid's regular bail.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had granted Engineer Rashid permission to be released on a two-day custody parole to participate in the parliamentary session. Engineer Rashid had withdrawn his bail application filed in the High Court on February 24. The High Court had directed the special NIA court at Patiala House Court to hear and decide Engineer Rashid's bail application as soon as possible.

In fact, after receiving clarification from the Supreme Court, the registry of the Delhi High Court had informed that the special NIA court at Patiala House Court could hear the case filed against Engineer Rashid. Engineer Rashid had won the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 by defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by nearly one lakh votes. Engineer Rashid was arrested by the NIA in 2016.

On March 16, 2022, the Patiala House Court had ordered that charges be framed against Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Masrat Alam, Engineer Rashid, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Bitta Karate, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Avtar Ahmad Shah, Naim Khan, Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah, and other accused. According to the NIA, with the help of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, JKLF, and Jaish-e-Mohammad carried out attacks and violence against civilians and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference was established in 1993 to carry out separatist activities.

According to the NIA, Hafiz Saeed, in collaboration with the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, conducted financial transactions through hawala and other channels to carry out terrorist activities. This money was used to spread unrest in the valley, attack security forces, burn schools, and damage public property. After receiving this information, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the NIA to register a case under sections 120B, 121, 121A of the Indian Penal Code and sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38, 39, and 40 of the UAPA.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar