New Delhi

Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking modification of its earlier order that granted him one-week interim bail in a terror funding case, requesting permission to stay closer to his ailing father, who has been shifted to AIIMS Delhi from Srinagar.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain, which had earlier restricted Rashid to Srinagar during the interim bail period, listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday and directed him to provide a local address in Delhi.

During the hearing, Rashid’s counsel informed the court that he owns a flat in Delhi allotted to him as a Member of Parliament. However, the court expressed reservations about allowing him to stay in the MP accommodation shared with other parliamentarians, citing security concerns.

“That is not good enough. You can’t be in the MP's house where other MPs are living. I can’t permit that. It will be a security issue,” the bench observed.

The lawyer said he would submit details of a private residence instead.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), opposing the plea, argued that since the court had effectively granted custody parole and Rashid was not required to remain outside Delhi, he could instead visit his father from jail if needed. The agency also noted that his father’s condition was stable and he had been shifted to AIIMS at the family’s request.

Rashid’s counsel said he was released on April 30 under interim bail but remained unable to travel to Delhi after his father’s health deteriorated and required hospitalisation.

“I am stuck in Srinagar. I am not allowed to come. He is here. I am there,” his lawyer submitted.

The court had earlier granted interim bail on April 28, allowing him to either visit his father or remain at home, subject to police escort conditions.

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Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest by the NIA in a 2017 terror funding case and faces charges under UAPA and sections of the IPC, including criminal conspiracy and sedition.