Delhi Court Reserves Order on Jailed MP Engineer Rashid’s Plea for Bail or Custody Parole to Attend Parliament Session
Delhi Court reserved order on jailed MP Engineer Rashid’s request for interim bail to attend the Winter Session of Parliament
A Delhi Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a plea by jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid seeking interim bail or custody parole to attend the Winter Session of Parliament beginning December 1.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma heard the application moved through Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi on behalf of Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid.
The plea argues that as an elected parliamentarian, Rashid must be permitted to discharge his public duties during the upcoming session.
The proceedings were held in camera. The Court is expected to deliver its order on Thursday, i.e. November 27.
On November 21, the National Investigation Agency had sought time to obtain instructions before responding to the request.
Rashid, who defeated former J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Baramulla, has previously been granted limited relief. The court allowed custody parole between July 24 and August 4 for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, and earlier granted interim bail to enable him to campaign during the J-K Assembly elections.
He has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest by the NIA in connection with a 2017 terror funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Notably, on September 6, the Court had permitted Rashid to visit Parliament in custody on September 9 to cast his vote in the Vice-Presidential election.
Earlier, on August 18, the High Court had reserved its order on a plea moved by Rashid challenging a trial court’s order imposing costs on him as a condition for granting custody parole to attend Parliament. On August 12, the high court had asked Delhi Police to explain the basis of the travel cost imposed on Engineer Rashid, as a condition for granting him custody parole to attend Parliament.
It is to be noted that on July 31, the Court had issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by Rashid challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in a terror funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In an earlier hearing, the high court had sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Rashid's 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 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 fulfil his constitutional duties as a member of parliament.
Hearing Date: November 26, 2025
Bench: Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma