New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed before the Delhi High Court a plea moved by Bramulla Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, seeking interim bail in a terror-funding case to attend the ongoing Parliament session.
Rashid’s interim bail plea is scheduled for hearing before the High Court on February 4.
What has NIA said in response to Rashid’s interim bail plea?
The NIA, in its response to Rashid’s interim bail plea before Justice Vikas Mahajn, has said that his plea was a classic case of misuse of the provisions of the interim bail ought to be used sparingly when intolerable grief and suffering was displayed by the accused concerned
Justice Vikas Mahajan, while hearing Rashid’s plea earlier, said, “Let the needful be done before the next date of hearing.”
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, who had appeared for the NIA, had said that he would seek instructions on the issue.
What has Rashid sought?
Rashid has urged the High Court to release him from Tihar Jail, where he is currently lodged in judicial custody in a terror funding case, on interim bail to attend the Parliament’s Budget session. He has sought custody parole in the alternative.
Rashid recently moved High Court seeking disposal of his bail plea before trial court
Rashid recently moved the High Court seeking disposal of his bail plea in the terror funding case pending before a trial court in the national capital and the High Court had issued notice to the NIA and sought its response on Rashid’s plea.
Rashid won from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat
Rashid contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla parliamentary seat in Jammu and Kashmir and won from the seat by defeating Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He contested the general elections from Tihar Jail. He has been lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since 2019 after he was charged under the provisions of UAPA.
Rashid was earlier granted interim bail
A trial court earlier granted Rashid interim bail from September 10 to October 2 last year to enable him to campaign in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir held last year. His interim bail was later extended by the trial court on the ground of his father’s health condition and he surrendered before the Tihar Jail authorities on October 28 last year.
