New Delhi, Mar 12: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to state its position on Jammu and Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s request to be allowed to attend the ongoing session of Parliament. Rashid, who is facing charges under the anti-terror law UAPA, filed a plea seeking custody parole or interim bail to attend the session.
A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta issued notice to the NIA on Rashid’s appeal, challenging the trial court’s decision to deny him custody parole. The bench further scheduled the case for hearing on March 18, directing that any objections from the NIA be placed before the court by then.
Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail and has been in custody since 2019 after his arrest in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case. He is accused of funding separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior advocate N Hariharan, representing Rashid, argued that his constituency was unrepresented in the ongoing Parliament session, which runs until April 4, and requested custody parole, similar to the two-day parole granted by the High Court in February.
The NIA’s counsel informed the court that Rashid’s regular bail plea is expected to be decided by the trial court on March 19.
Rashid, who defeated former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is a prominent figure in the state’s political scene.
