The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing for March 25 on a plea by jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, who is seeking permission to attend the ongoing Parliament session. Rashid, who is facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a 2017 terror funding case, challenged a trial court order denying him custody parole or interim bail to attend Lok Sabha proceedings till April 4.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) argued that Rashid, a “highly influential” person, might sway witnesses in Jammu and Kashmir if granted bail. The NIA also stated that Rashid’s status as an MP should not be used to “get away from rigours of imprisonment.” The agency cited Section 43D(5) of the UAPA, which prohibits bail if there are reasonable grounds to believe the accusations are prima facie true.
Rashid’s counsel urged the high court to permit him to attend the Parliament session on custody parole, similar to a previous two-day reprieve granted to him. The Baramulla MP, who defeated Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2019.
