NEW DELHI — The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the regular bail plea of Baramulla Member of Parliament Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in a National Investigation Agency (NIA) case linked to alleged terror funding, ANI reported. A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan reserved the order after hearing Senior Advocate N Hariharan, assisted by Vikhyat Oberoi, for Sheikh and Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, assisted by Special Public Prosecutor Akshay Malik, for the NIA.
Sheikh has been in judicial custody at Tihar Jail since his arrest by the NIA in August 2019. He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, in case RC No. 10/2017/NIA/DLI, registered in May 2017, according to the detailed court report. He was not named in the main chargesheet and was named in the second supplementary chargesheet, ANI reported. The charges are allegations; the trial is still in progress and no court has convicted him in this case.
Defence: seven years in custody, co-accused already out on bail
Seeking bail, Hariharan submitted that Sheikh has been in custody for seven years and that another accused, Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is charged with the same offences, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in March 2026, ANI reported. The detailed report added that the defence pointed to prolonged incarceration and trial delay: the court has previously noted that the case involves around 240 witnesses and is likely to take considerable time to conclude. Defence counsel also submitted that all public witnesses have been examined, that Sheikh was not involved in anti-India activities, and that as an elected MP he has shown faith in the Constitution, ANI reported.
NIA: he influenced witnesses while out, agency alleges
Opposing the plea, the NIA alleged that Sheikh gave speeches against India, supported anti-India activities, and met and influenced witnesses while he was out on interim bail, and that two protected witnesses turned hostile, ANI reported. The detailed court report said the agency submitted that testimony so far suggested influence on three witnesses, and that only the public witnesses have been examined while the NIA's official witnesses are yet to be examined, which is why it argued bail should be refused. The defence rejected the influence allegation, saying the witnesses cited had longstanding professional connections with Sheikh, including as his driver and personal assistants, according to the detailed report. All of the NIA's claims remain allegations to be tested at trial.
Sheikh, the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party and a former two-time MLA from Langate, won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in 2024 while in custody. He has previously been given interim bail to campaign in the Assembly election and custody parole to take his oath as an MP and attend Parliament sessions, and interim bail after his father's demise, ANI reported. In September 2026, the High Court had asked the NIA whether he could be released on bail under stringent conditions, including restricting his stay to Delhi, and listed the matter for November 3. What happens next: the Bench's order on the bail plea is awaited; the reports consulted did not announce a date for it.
What is solid
- The Delhi High Court reserved its order on Sheikh's regular bail plea on November 3 after hearing both sides (ANI; detailed court report)
- Sheikh has been in custody since August 2019 in the NIA case registered in 2017, charged under UAPA and IPC provisions (ANI)
- Co-accused Shabir Ahmad Shah was granted bail by the Supreme Court in March 2026 (ANI)
What is only claimed
- The NIA alleges Sheikh influenced witnesses, including two protected witnesses who turned hostile, while out on interim bail — an allegation, not a finding (ANI; detailed court report)
- The defence says the witnesses cited were his own staff and supporters, that all public witnesses have been examined, and that seven years of custody plus trial delay justify bail (ANI; detailed court report)