The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) about a plea submitted by jailed Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid seeking interim bail to attend the monsoon Parliament session.
Sheikh Rashid, who won the 2024 parliamentary elections, defeating Omar Abdullah by a massive margin of over 2 lakh votes, was jailed for funding terror activities in 2017. It is pertinent to mention that he had contested the elections from jail.
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur issued notice to the NIA on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on July 29. The Baramulla MP has been in Tihar jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.
During the short hearing, Rashid’s lawyer submitted that the MP has already been asked to submit Rs 17 lakh to represent the public in Parliament.
He said Rashid was allowed to attend Parliament during the last session, though the costs are immense, and he won't be able to attend the ongoing session every day.
Custody parole entails a prisoner being escorted by armed police personnel to the place of visit. On July 22, the trial court allowed custody parole to Rashid to attend the monsoon session from July 24 to August 4, subject to payment of travel expenses.
As per NIA’s FIR, Rashid’s name came up during the interrogation of businessman and co-accused and main handler Zahoor Watali.
After being charge-sheeted in October 2019, a special NIA court framed charges against Rashid and others in March 2022 under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124 A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and for offences relating to terrorist acts and terror funding under the UAPA.
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