The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail to Engineer Rashid, the jailed Baramulla MP, until June 2. This bail allows him to attend his father’s funeral and perform the last rites. Rashid’s father passed away at AIIMS-Delhi in the early hours of the day.
The court order specifies that Rashid must carry out various rituals, including funeral prayers, burial on May 18, a four-day mourning period, and other customary observances. Rashid, who is facing trial in a terror funding case, sought interim bail to conduct the burial and perform religious rites after his father’s demise.
Under the conditions of the interim bail, Rashid will have continuous police escort and restrictions on his movements and interactions. He is required to be accompanied by at least two plainclothes police personnel throughout the bail period.
Rashid is allowed to stay only at his residences in Srinagar and Kupwara districts of Jammu and Kashmir during this period. He can visit the burial ground or place of worship solely for the purpose of performing the last rites. Any meetings with individuals other than immediate family members must occur in the presence of two police officials.
Upon the expiry of the bail period, Rashid must surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent. Earlier, the court had permitted Rashid to visit his ailing father at AIIMS in Delhi daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. under police escort. This modification was granted due to his father’s deteriorating health condition.
Rashid had approached the Delhi High Court after a trial court denied his plea for interim bail to visit his ailing father. Despite being in custody in the terror-funding case, Rashid had been granted custody parole on previous occasions, including to attend Parliament sessions.
