New Delhi– The Delhi High Court has granted two-day custody parole to Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, allowing him to attend the ongoing Parliament session. The court permitted him to be present on February 11 and 13 under strict conditions, barring him from media interactions and limiting his engagement solely to parliamentary duties.
Engineer Rashid, who secured a landslide victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency while being lodged in Tihar Jail, is facing charges in a terror funding case under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His legal team had sought interim bail or, alternatively, custody parole to enable his participation in the Budget session, which commenced on January 31 and will continue until April 4.
During court proceedings, NIA’s counsel opposed his release, citing security concerns and arguing that custody parole is not a guaranteed right for legislators. Meanwhile, Rashid’s legal representatives emphasized the importance of his parliamentary presence and pushed for an expedited ruling on his regular bail plea.
Engineer Rashid was arrested in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with additional money laundering charges filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate. The allegations claim he was involved in activities aimed at destabilizing the region. Despite his incarceration, his political influence remains significant, with his brother, Sheikh Khurshid Ahmad, recently winning the Langate Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir.
The case has drawn national attention, highlighting legal and political debates surrounding the rights of elected representatives facing criminal charges. The outcome of his bail plea is expected to set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
