A Delhi court has set March 7 as the date to issue its verdict on the custody parole request of Engineer Rashid, a Member of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, who is currently imprisoned. Rashid seeks to attend the upcoming Parliament session, which is scheduled from March 10 to April 4.
The decision was reserved by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh after hearing the arguments concerning Rashid’s plea. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was also asked to respond to this plea on March 3. Rashid, represented by advocate Vikhyat Oberoi, argues that his attendance in Parliament is essential to fulfill his duties as a lawmaker.
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, has been a notable political figure, having defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for the Baramulla constituency. However, his political career has been overshadowed by legal challenges; he has been in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 terror funding case.
The case links him to an investigation involving Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in Kashmir. The chargesheet filed by the NIA also includes names like Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 after pleading guilty to the charges.
In a related development, the Delhi High Court on February 24 directed the sessions judge to expedite the decision on Rashid’s bail plea, following an earlier court request to transfer the case to a court designated for trying lawmakers.
