In a compassionate yet security-conscious move, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday revised its interim bail terms for Engineer Rashid, the Baramulla MP currently in Tihar Jail. The key change: permission to meet his critically ill father at AIIMS Delhi, adapting to the patient’s urgent transfer from Srinagar.
The backstory began with a April 28 order granting seven days’ interim bail for Rashid to visit his father in Srinagar. But medical exigencies intervened—his father was admitted to AIIMS. Rashid’s counsel promptly sought modifications, a plea the High Court addressed today.
Senior lawyer N. Hariharan submitted details of a rented property as Rashid’s Delhi stay option. The court rebuffed this, deeming it premature to probe an unrelated address without ties to family or acquaintances. Instead, it recalibrated the relief: no blanket jail release, but supervised daily access to AIIMS from morning till evening until May 10.
Security measures are stringent—two undercover officers will shadow the visits from outside the hospital ward, safeguarding against risks. The court reiterated that original bail stipulations persist, ensuring this is no permanent reprieve. Post-May 10, Rashid returns to custody.
Rashid’s profile adds layers to this saga. Victorious in Baramulla during 2024 elections, he’s been behind bars since 2019 on NIA charges of terror financing under UAPA from a 2017 probe. Trial court denied regular bail in March 2025; an earlier interim plea failed April 24 amid witness influence concerns.
This episode underscores the judiciary’s nuanced approach in terror cases, prioritizing family welfare where possible without compromising public safety. As Rashid’s trial progresses, such decisions keep humanitarian angles in sharp focus amid national security debates.
