NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday opposed newly elected J&K MP Engineer Rashid’s plea, arguing that if released Rashid may “misuse his position to influence witnesses and obstruct justice”.
Rashid, who is behind bars under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA charges, won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from J&K’s Baramulla seat.He defeated ex-CM Omar Abdullah.
Citing confidential reports in Delhi’s Patiala House Court, the anti-terror agency expressed apprehension that Rashid, like earlier, “might misuse his liberty”.
Previously, Rashid misused the telephone facilities in Tihar Jail, leading to restrictions on his call privileges.
The NIA also claimed that Rashid defended the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s terror activities as a “political cause”, pointing out his disputed alignment with extremist narratives.
The agency also asserted that Rashid is involved in a strategy by Pakistani and secessionist groups to portray terrorist acts as political struggles, aiming to incite separatism in Jammu and Kashmir and given these concerns, ANI reported.
Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday reserved the order on Rashid’s bail plea in connection with a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.
Earlier, the NIA had given Rashid its consent to take oath as MP on July 25.
Rashid, who recently won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeks bail as his case progresses. The court is expected to pronounce its decision on September 4.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the UAPA for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case.
The former MLA’s name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.
The NIA had filed a chargesheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in the case.
Malik was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Rashid, who is behind bars under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA charges, won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from J&K’s Baramulla seat.He defeated ex-CM Omar Abdullah.
Citing confidential reports in Delhi’s Patiala House Court, the anti-terror agency expressed apprehension that Rashid, like earlier, “might misuse his liberty”.
Previously, Rashid misused the telephone facilities in Tihar Jail, leading to restrictions on his call privileges.
The NIA also claimed that Rashid defended the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s terror activities as a “political cause”, pointing out his disputed alignment with extremist narratives.
The agency also asserted that Rashid is involved in a strategy by Pakistani and secessionist groups to portray terrorist acts as political struggles, aiming to incite separatism in Jammu and Kashmir and given these concerns, ANI reported.
Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday reserved the order on Rashid’s bail plea in connection with a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.
Earlier, the NIA had given Rashid its consent to take oath as MP on July 25.
Rashid, who recently won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeks bail as his case progresses. The court is expected to pronounce its decision on September 4.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the UAPA for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case.
The former MLA’s name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.
The NIA had filed a chargesheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in the case.
Malik was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
