Terror Funding Case: Delhi HC Seeks NIA Reply on Abdul Rashid’s Bail Plea
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 Friday, July 25, 2025, sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by jailed Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid, seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Rashid, currently in jail in connection with a 2017 terror funding case, has also challenged 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.
Appearing before a division Bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur, Senior Advocate Hariharan argued that Rashid had been “saddled” with a cost burden of Rs 17 lakh simply for trying to “represent the public at large.”
He further told the Court that Rashid had earlier been allowed to attend Parliament, but was now losing every day of the session due to the high costs imposed on him.
Taking note of this, the High Court issued notice to the NIA and listed the matter for further hearing on July 29.
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.
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.
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.
Previously, on July 5, 2024, the Court had also granted him custody parole to enable him to take the oath as a Lok Sabha member.
Case Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh v. National Investigation Agency
Order Date: July 25, 2025
Bench: Division Bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur