Delhi High Court Seeks NIA's Response On MP Engineer Rashid's Plea Against Framing Of Charges In UAPA Case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought response of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a plea filed by Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid challenging trial court order framing charges against him in a terror funding case registered under UAPA.

A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Shalinder Kaur called for the trial court record and listed the plea for hearing on October 06.

For context, the plea was initially listed before a coordinate bench in May when notice was issued only on the aspect of delay in filing of the appeal.

Then, the coordinate bench had also issued notice on Rashid's regular bail plea.

Today, Rashid's plea challenging costs imposed on him by a trial court while granting him custody parole to attend the Parliament from July 24 to August 04 was also listed before the Court. Alternatively, Rashid has sought interim bail to attend Parliament.

Also listed was Rashid's plea seeking modification of an order passed by the division bench on March 25 asking him to deposit ₹4 lakh (approx) with the jail authorities, so as to attend the Parliamentary.

Since the Court was of the view that the same Bench which imposed the conditions must be hearing the petitions, both the pleas were listed before a Bench comprising Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, subject to orders of the Chief Justice.

Notably, the coordinate bench had comprised of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani. Justice Singh has now been transferred to the Allahabad High Court.

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