New Delhi, 28 April (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has granted one‑week interim bail to Baramulla MP Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh (popularly known as Engineer Rashid) in the terror‑funding case, allowing him to visit his critically ill father in Srinagar. A bench presided over by Justice Prathiba M.

Singh ordered that the jailed MP be released on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh and remain under strict conditions during the short‑term release.

The bench directed that Engineer Rashid must remain either at his residence or at the hospital in which his father is admitted throughout the seven‑day period. He has been barred from meeting or speaking to anyone other than members of his immediate family and must keep his mobile phone switched on and operable at all times.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been asked to deploy two police officials in plain clothes to accompany him at all times; the cost of travel and logistics for the accompanying officers will be borne by the NIA. The court also ordered that Engineer Rashid must surrender at the end of the one‑week period, failing which his bail will stand cancelled.

Engineer Rashid, an accused in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)‑linked terror‑funding case, has been in custody for over six years. Earlier, the Patiala House Court had rejected his interim‑bail plea for the same reason and dismissed his request to see his critically ill, ventilator‑dependent father.

The High Court, however, viewed the matter on humanitarian grounds, noting the serious health condition of his father and the lack of any prior instances of misuse of earlier short‑term releases. The MP had earlier been granted limited custody parole and permission to attend the entire Parliamentary session from 28 January to 2 April 2026, as well as intermittent permissions to participate in preceding sessions and even vote in the 2025 Vice‑Presidential election.

The one‑week relief, described as “interim” and strictly regulated, underscores the balance the court has sought between the ongoing probe and the constitutional‑ordinary‑person’s right to visit a critically ill parent.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar