The Delhi High Court Today (Feb 10) granted two-day custody parole to jailed MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Rashid Engineer, allowing him to attend the Parliament session on February 11 and 13. Rashid, facing trial in a terror funding case, was given this relief under strict conditions, including a ban on mobile phone use. The NIA opposed his plea, citing security concerns and arguing he had no “vested right” to attend Parliament. Rashid was arrested in 2019 for alleged links to separatists and designated terrorist “Hafeez Saeed.”
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today gave permission for a two-day custody parole to jailed MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Rashid Engineer so that he can attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Justice Vikas Mahajan said:
“Rashid could attend the Parliament session on February 11 and 13.”
Custody parole means that a prisoner is taken to a specific place under the supervision of armed police officers. Rashid has been allowed to go under certain conditions, one of which is that he cannot use a mobile phone.
The Baramulla MP is currently facing trial in a terror funding case. He is accused of providing financial support to separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rashid had approached the Delhi High Court, saying that he had no other legal option because the NIA court, which was handling his bail application, had left his case uncertain. This happened after he was elected as an MP in the Lok Sabha last year, but his case was not transferred to a special MP/MLA court.
As a temporary relief, he had requested custody parole.
The lawyer representing the National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed this request, arguing that Rashid did not have any “vested right” to attend Parliament. The NIA lawyer also stated that Rashid had not mentioned any “specific purpose” for seeking permission.
The agency also expressed concerns about security risks.
Rashid was arrested in 2019 on allegations of being involved in a money laundering case and for “waging war against the country” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
His case is linked to providing funds for separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and having connections with designated terrorist “Hafeez Saeed.”
PREVIOUSLY IN DELHI HC
The Delhi High Court on Friday (February 7, 2025) reserved its order on a plea by jailed MP Rashid Engineer, facing trial in a terror funding case, seeking custody parole to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
The counsel appearing for the NIA opposed the grant of custody parole, saying Mr Rashid had no vested right to attend Parliament.
Rashid’s counsel emphasised that his constituency was not being represented in Parliament and he ought to be allowed to attend the session.
“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 counsel argued.
The court was hearing Mr Rashid’s petition alleging that he had been left without any remedy after the NIA court dealing with his bail application left him in a limbo post his election to the Lok Sabha last year on account of it not being a special MP/MLA court.
As interim relief, he prayed for grant of custody parole.
Mr Rashid has been lodged in Tihar jail here since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror-funding case.
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