The Delhi High Court has reserved its decision on jailed MP Rashid Engineer’s plea for custody parole to attend Parliament, amid a terror funding trial. The NIA opposed the request citing security concerns and lack of valid purpose, while Rashid’s lawyer emphasized his constituency’s representation needs. The court’s verdict is pending.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea by jailed MP Rashid Engineer, who is facing trial in a terror funding case, seeking custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Justice Vikas Mahajan heard arguments from Rashid’s counsel as well as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) before stating, “Judgement reserved.”
The NIA strongly opposed Rashid’s request for custody parole, arguing that the MP had no vested right to attend Parliament while being under trial. The agency also pointed out that Rashid failed to provide any specific purpose for his request and raised security concerns regarding his presence in Parliament.
Rashid’s lawyer emphasized the importance of parliamentary representation for his constituency, arguing,
“I represent the largest constituency of J&K. Don’t prevent the representation when the process of inclusion has started… Don’t stifle the voice of the constituency.”
The petition claimed that Rashid had been left without any legal remedy after the NIA court handling his bail plea failed to process it following his election to the Lok Sabha last year. Since the NIA court is not a special MP/MLA court, Rashid’s legal status remains unclear.
Rashid, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged involvement in the 2017 terror-funding case.
His petition urges the Delhi High Court to either expedite his pending bail plea in the NIA court or decide the matter itself. The NIA has also opposed his interim bail plea, stating that he has no right to attend Parliament under current circumstances.
The Delhi High Court’s verdict on Rashid’s plea is now awaited.
Case Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh v. NIA
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