New Delhi: A city court on Thursday sent a terror-funding case against Bramulla Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, back to the special judge, who was hearing the matter.
The case was earlier being heard by Principal District and Sessions Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav before the special judge had requested the district judge to transfer the case involving Rashid to a court designated to try lawmakers observing that he was now an MP.
The special court, besides recommending to transfer the alleged terror funding case to a court designated to try lawmakers, had also recommended to the district judge for transfer of Rashid’s regular bail plea and a related money laundering case.
Rashid won from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency
Rashid, who is the chief of the Awami Ittihaad Party, contested this year’s parliamentary elections from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat while being lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail and defeated his nearest rival and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Rashid, NIA earlier jointly sought matter to remain in court that was hearing it
The district judge on Thursday sent the case back to the special judge by the consent of all accused persons as well as the National Investigating Agency.
The district judge sent the matter back to the earlier judge after being informed that the Delhi High Court is currently seized of matter related to the jurisdiction of the court.
The counsel representing Rashid and NIA earlier jointly sought the matter to remain in the court that was hearing it.
The special court is likely to take up the case on December 20 and will continue to hear it till the final order on the issue of jurisdiction is passed by the high court, news agency PTI reported.
Rashid has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019
Rashid has been lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in the alleged terror funding case lodged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) since 2019 after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged him under the provisions of UAPA in the case. He was granted interim bail in the alleged terror funding case to enable him to campaign in this year’s Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
