Delhi High Court Seeks NIA's Response On Plea By Jammu & Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid Seeking To Attend Parliament
The Delhi High Court has sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Jammu and Kashmir MP (Member of Parliament) Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid's plea seeking permission to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
MP Rashid has been in prison and is facing charges under the anti-terror law i.e., the Unlaw Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
A Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta directed, "Issue notice. Let objections, if any, be placed before this court on Monday."
The Bench has issued notice to the NIA on Rashid's Appeal against the Order of the Trial Court by which it refused to grant him custody parole or interim bail.
The Baramulla MP, who defeated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is facing trial in a terror funding case with the allegations that he funded separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir. As an interim relief, the High Court on February 10, had allowed him a two-day custody parole to attend the Parliament session on February 11 and 13. Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the UAPA in the 2017 terror-funding case.
Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, appearing for Rashid stated that the Parliament session was till April 4 and his constituency was going unrepresented.
"I represent the parliamentary constituency which has 45 per cent of entire population of J-K. Send me in custody (parole)", he said, adding that he was earlier given the relief of custody parole for two days by the High Court.
The counsel for the NIA contended that Rashid's regular bail plea is likely to be decided by the Trial Court on March 19.
Accordingly, the High Court listed the case for further hearing on March 18, 2025.
With PTI Inputs
