Terror Funding Case: Engineer Rashid gets custody parole to attend Parliament session
The Special NIA Court at Patiala House, New Delhi, on Tuesday granted custody parole to jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid to enable his attendance during the monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled from July 24 to August 4.
Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a 2017 terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Special Judge Chander Jit Singh passed the order, allowing Rashid to participate in House proceedings while remaining in the custody of prison authorities.
Pertinently, on July 15, the Delhi Court had reserved its order in Rashid's plea. The Judge had reserved order after hearing detailed arguments from Rashid’s counsel and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Advocates Aditya Wadhwa, Vikhyat Oberoi, and Nishita Gupta, appearing for the MP had submitted that Rashid has been previously granted interim bail by the trial court to campaign during the state elections on September 10, 2024, which was extended three times. They had argued that this establishes he does not pose a security risk.
The defence had also pointed out that the Delhi High Court had earlier allowed Rashid to attend Parliament in custody on two occasions, February 10 and March 25 this year, during which he participated in proceedings without incident.
The NIA, however, opposed the grant of interim bail or custody parole and submitted that if he is permitted to attend Parliament in custody, he must pay for his travel expenses.
Rashid’s Counsels strongly objected to this condition, arguing that attending Parliament is a constitutional obligation and a matter of public duty, not a personal privilege.
The Court has now reserved its order and will pronounce it on July 21, the same day the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins.
It is to be noted that in September 2024, a Delhi Court had granted interim bail to Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, until October 2, 2024, in connection with the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding 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. 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.