Delhi High Court Seeks NIA's Response On MP Engineer Rashid's Plea Against Costs To Attend Parliament

Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid on Friday moved the Delhi High Court challenging costs imposed by him by a trial court while granting him custody parole to attend the Parliament from July 24 to August 04.

A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Shalinder Kaur issued notice in Rashid's plea and sought response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Senior Advocate N Hariharan appearing for Rashid submitted that the MP has been “saddled” with costs of Rs. 17 lakh to “represent the public at large.”

He said that Rashid has been previously allowed to attend the parliament and that he was losing every day as he is not able to attend the session due to huge costs.

The Court directed the NIA to file reply to the plea and listed the matter on July 29, when Rashid's regular bail in the alleged terror funding case is also listed.

Rashid was elected from the Baramulla constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror-funding case.

Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in alleged terror funding case.

Title: Abdul Rashid Sheikh v. NIA