Delhi HC Seeks NIA’s Reply on Plea by Engineer Rashid Against Framing of Charges in UAPA Case
Engineer Rashid has been incarcerated since 2019 after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case related to terror funding from 2017;
The Delhi High Court on Thursday, 31 July 2025, issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in a terror funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A division bench of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Shalinder Kaur said, “Issue notice. Learned Special Counsel accepts notice and seeks time to file reply.”
The court has accordingly listed the matter for hearing on October 6, 2025.
Separately, the court directed that Rashid’s plea challenging a trial court order directing him to bear travel expenses as a condition for custody parole to attend Parliament be placed before the same bench that had imposed the condition while granting parole.
The bench noted that the conditions in question were imposed by a bench comprising Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani and Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, the latter having since been repatriated to the Allahabad High Court.
The court also directed that Rashid’s plea seeking modification of the March 25 order which required him to deposit Rs 4 lakh with jail authorities to attend the parliamentary session be placed before the same bench that passed the original order.
In its order, the court observed, “Vide order dated 25th March, this Court granted custody parole to the petitioner subject to certain conditions. Senior counsel now seeks modification of the said order. List the matter before the Chief Justice.”
On 29 July, the Court had said that Rashid’s plea would be heard on 31 July.
In the previous hearing, the high court had sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on his plea challenging a trial court order directing him to pay Rs 1.44 lakh per day for travelling to Parliament in custody between July 24 and August 4.
On July 22, the Special NIA Court at Patiala House, New Delhi, had granted custody parole to Engineer Rashid to enable his attendance during the monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled from July 24 to August 4, subject to the condition that he bears the travel and security expenses himself.
Previously, Engineer Rashid had approached the High Court seeking custody parole to attend the parliament budget session. He argued that he was allowed to campaign for the elections without any objection from the NIA, but was not being allowed to fulfill his constitutional duties as a member of parliament. Senior Advocate Hariharan, representing Engineer Rashid, had argued that a previous order had granted Rashid permission to attend the budget session for two days.
The Delhi High Court, in an order dated 11 February 2025, granted custody parole to Engineer Rashid to attend the upcoming Parliament budget session. Engineer Rashid has been incarcerated since 2019 after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case related to terror funding from 2017.
Engineer Rashid, who gained prominence by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, approached the court seeking temporary relief. He sought interim bail to participate in the campaign for the forthcoming Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections.
In September 2024, Engineer Rashid was granted interim bail by the Rouse Avenue Court to campaign in the elections.
The NIA had registered a case on May 30, 2017, invoking Section 120B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy) and several provisions of the UAPA, 1967, against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and other separatist leaders, including Engineer Rashid, for allegedly fueling secessionist activities.
For Petitioner: Senior Advocate N. Hariharan with Advocates Vikhyat Oberoi, Aditya Wadhwa, Nishita Gupta, Shivam Prakash, Ravi Sharma, Jagriti Pandey, Punya Rekha Angara, Vasundhara N., Sana Singh, Aman Akhtar, Vinayak Gautam and Hasnain Khwaja
For Respondent: Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik with Advocates Ayush Aggarwal, K. Saleem, K.P. Rustom Khan and Yatharth Sharma
Case Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh v National Investigative Agency
Date: 29 July 2025
Bench: Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur