Delhi court grants custody parole to terror-accused MP Engineer Rashid for monsoon session. NIA opposed interim bail citing UAPA charges.
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed Baramulla Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid, currently in Tihar Jail, to attend the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament. The court granted him custody parole from July 24 to August 4, 2025, so he can fulfil his parliamentary duties.
Engineer Rashid, a newly elected Lok Sabha MP, has been in jail since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He is accused of being involved in a 2017 terror funding case.
The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, though the detailed order is still awaited.
Engineer Rashid had approached the court seeking interim bail or custody parole to allow him to attend the parliamentary session and discharge his responsibilities as an elected lawmaker.
As per procedure, custody parole means that the prisoner is taken under armed police escort to the required location and then brought back to jail.
His lawyer requested the court that he be released on interim bail, or, if not possible, that he be given custody parole without paying any travel cost.
His advocate stated,
“Rashid should be allowed to attend the parliamentary session by granting interim bail.”
He further added,
“In the alternative, Rashid could be allowed custody parole, without payment of travel costs.”
The NIA opposed the plea. The agency told the court that interim bail should not be granted to Rashid and that custody parole may only be allowed if he pays the expenses for travel and security.
The NIA’s response was clear:
“Interim bail should not be granted and custody parole could be allowed only after payment of travel expenses.”
Engineer Rashid, who won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla by defeating Omar Abdullah, is currently facing trial in a serious terror funding case.
The charges against him include that he allegedly funded separatist activities and terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the NIA, Rashid’s name came up during the questioning of businessman Zahoor Watali, who is also a co-accused in the same case.
The NIA filed its chargesheet against Rashid in October 2019, and a special NIA court later framed charges against him and others in March 2022.
He has been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including:
- Section 120B (criminal conspiracy),
- Section 121 (waging war against the Government of India),
- Section 124A (sedition),
In addition to these IPC provisions, Rashid is also facing charges under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged involvement in terrorist acts and terror financing.
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