Delhi High Court has sought NIA’s reply on jailed MP Engineer Rashid’s plea seeking interim bail or government-funded security to attend the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He objected to a ₹17 lakh personal cost for 12 days.
New Delhi: On July 25, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding a petition filed by Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid.
He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In his latest plea, Rashid has asked for interim bail so that he can attend the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
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A Division Bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur took note of the plea and announced that the matter will be taken up for hearing on July 29. Rashid had approached the High Court after a special NIA Court refused his earlier request for interim bail.
The trial court, while rejecting his plea, had stated that Rashid may attend the parliament session under custody on select days, but the entire cost of travel and security would have to be borne by him.
Challenging this decision, Rashid submitted before the High Court that either he should be given interim bail or the government should bear the expenses related to his transportation and security arrangements.
Senior Advocate N Hariharan, who represented Rashid in court, pointed out the financial burden being placed on the MP. He informed the court that the cost quoted to enable Rashid to attend Parliament for 12 days was an enormous Rs 17 lakh, calculated at Rs 1.44 lakh per day.
Expressing frustration, Hariharan told the court,
“You are saddling me with Rs 17 lakh cost to represent the public at large? I am losing every day. I have gone there before. You have sent me earlier on two occasions. I was allowed by this Court.”
Rashid’s case is significant as he defeated the current Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by a huge margin of over two lakh votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning the Baramulla seat.
Previously, Rashid had made a similar request to attend the Budget Session of Parliament. The Delhi High Court, in its order dated March 26, had allowed his participation, but on specific conditions—one of which required him to personally cover the cost of travel from Tihar Jail to Parliament and back.
Now, with the Monsoon Session underway, Rashid has once again moved the High Court with a fresh plea seeking similar permission.
Alongside Senior Advocate Hariharan, advocates Aditya Wadhwa, Vikhyat Oberoi, and Nishita Gupta also appeared on behalf of Rashid. The NIA was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik in the case.
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