jailed-mp-er-rashid-allowed-by-court-to-vote-in-vp-elections

Consequent upon seeking permission for the purpose , Patiala House Court in Delhi has permitted Sheikh Abdul Rashid, the jailed Member of Parliament from Baramulla popularly known as Engineer Rashid, to visit Parliament in custody on September 9 to cast his vote in the Vice-Presidential election.

 

As per the order dated September 4, 2025, delivered on Saturday, Rashid will not be required to make any immediate payment towards travel expenses. However, he must furnish an undertaking to bear the cost at a later stage, subject to the outcome of appeals currently reserved for orders by the Delhi High Court.Advocate Vikhyat Oberoi appeared on Rashid’s behalf during the proceedings.

 

Since voting in the Vice-Presidential election must be done in person, Rashid had moved the Special NIA Court at Patiala House seeking permission to cast his vote despite being lodged in Tihar Jail. The court’s order now clears the way for him to exercise his rights as an elected MP.Rashid, currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a terror funding case, has moved his plea before the Special NIA Court at Patiala House.

Earlier, Rashid was granted custody parole for several days to attend the Monsoon Session of Parliament, allowing him to participate in the House proceedings despite his incarceration.Rashid registered a stunning electoral victory by defeating current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Baramulla in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Rashid is facing trial in a terror funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His name reportedly surfaced during the interrogation of businessman Zahoor Watali, a co-accused in the case.

 

The NIA filed its chargesheet against Rashid in October 2019. In March 2022, a Special NIA Court framed charges against him and others under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the Government of India), and 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, along with offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to terrorist acts and terror funding