New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking its response to a petition filed by jailed Member of Parliament Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid, who has sought interim bail or custody parole to participate in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, reported the New Indian Express.
Engineer Rashid, who secured a resounding victory from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 general elections by defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is currently imprisoned in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. He was arrested by the NIA in 2019 in connection with a 2017 terror funding case and charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur heard the plea and scheduled the next hearing for July 29, when it will also consider Rashid’s regular bail application.
Rashid’s legal counsel contested a recent trial court order mandating him to pay ₹1.44 lakh per day towards travel and security arrangements if he intends to attend Parliament from July 24 to August 4 under custody. The lawyer argued that as a democratically elected representative of Baramulla, Rashid has already incurred ₹17 lakh in similar expenses and is being subjected to an undue financial burden while attempting to fulfill his constitutional obligations.
While the trial court had granted custody parole for the duration of the session, it was conditional upon Rashid covering all associated expenses. His current petition requests either interim bail or custody parole with costs borne by the state, emphasizing his right to represent his constituency.
According to the NIA, Rashid’s involvement in terror financing emerged during the interrogation of businessman Zahoor Watali, a co-accused in the case. The agency formally charge-sheeted Rashid in October 2019, and in March 2022, charges were framed under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the state), and 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions under the UAPA.
Rashid maintains that he is being denied the right to serve his electorate due to an extended pre-trial incarceration and prohibitive conditions for parliamentary attendance.
