Delhi High Court seeks NIA reply on Engineer Rashid's plea to attend parliament's monsoon session

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by jailed Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament.

A Division Bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur said that the matter will be heard on July 29.

Rashid moved the High Court challenging the NIA Court order denying him interim bail.

The trial court had said that Rashid can attend parliament under custody, on certain days, but he would have to bear the cost of his travel and security.

In his appeal, the Baramulla MP has argued that he should either be granted interim bail or the government should bear the cost of his travel and security.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan appeared for Rashid and argued that he is being charged ₹17 lakh for 12 days at the rate of 1.44 lakh per day for security and travel arrangements from Tihar jail to parliament and back.

"You are saddling me with ₹17 lakh cost to represent the public at large? I am losing every day. I have gone there before. You have sent me earlier on two occasions. I was allowed by this Court,” Hariharan said.

Rashid is currently in Tihar Jail as an accused in a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He was arrested in 2019.

He won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by defeating current Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes. 

He has previously approached the High Court seeking permission to attend the parliament budget session.

The Delhi High Court had allowed his plea on March 26, subject to certain conditions, one of which was that he would bear the travel expense from Tihar to parliament and back.

He has now filed the fresh plea to attend the monsoon session of the house.

Besides Senior Advocate N Hariharan, advocates Aditya Wadhwa, Vikhyat Oberoi and Nishita Gupta also appeared for Rashid.

NIA was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik.