The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on a plea from Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who is currently incarcerated in a terror funding case, seeking permission to attend the ongoing session of Parliament. The plea, which has stirred substantial legal and political debate, was deliberated by a bench comprising Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani.
Initially, the bench appeared inclined to grant the permission sought by the independent Baramulla MP. However, they later opted to pass a detailed order after considering potential conditions, such as requiring special permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker to allow a police escort within the Parliament premises.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has strongly opposed Rashid’s plea, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction inside Parliament and asserting that Rashid should not use his parliamentary status to circumvent the conditions of his imprisonment. The NIA highlighted the severity of the accusations against Rashid, noting that under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), bail is not permissible if the charges appear prima facie credible.
Rashid, who has been in custody since 2019 following his arrest in connection with a 2017 terror funding case, is facing charges that include criminal conspiracy, waging war against the government, and sedition, as well as specific allegations related to funding terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir. His request for custody parole or interim bail was denied by a trial court on March 10, with further dismissal of his regular bail plea on March 19.
During the court proceedings, Rashid’s legal team argued for custody parole, allowing him to attend Parliament while escorted by armed police, similar to a previous two-day permission granted to him. The NIA countered, describing Rashid as a highly influential figure who could potentially influence witnesses or further complicate matters.
