Court reserves order on Rashid’s custody parole plea

A Delhi court has reserved its decision on jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s plea seeking custody parole to attend the upcoming Parliament session. After hearing arguments on the matter, Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh announced that the verdict would be delivered on March 7.

Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, had filed the application on February 27 through his advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, asserting his right to participate in parliamentary proceedings as an elected representative. The second phase of the Parliament’s Budget Session is scheduled to commence on March 10 and continue until April 4.

The plea stressed that Rashid’s attendance in the session was crucial for fulfilling his legislative responsibilities. In response, the court had sought a reply from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on March 3 before deciding to reserve its order.

A former legislator from Jammu and Kashmir, Rashid gained national attention in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after securing a surprise victory over former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla constituency. However, despite his electoral success, his tenure as an MP has been overshadowed by legal troubles. He remains incarcerated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a 2017 terror funding case.

While his regular bail plea remains pending, the Delhi High Court had earlier directed the sessions judge to expedite its decision on his bail request. This directive, issued on February 24, followed an order from December 24, 2024, which suggested transferring Rashid’s case to a special court designated for lawmakers.